Exosome Research Set to Clean Up with New Technology

Cell biologists are excited by the medical potential of exosomes. A novel exosome purification technology, released today by Cell Guidance Systems, is set to transform the field.

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Cell Guidance Systems

Aug 22, 2013, 08:27 ET

CAMBRIDGE, England, Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Once thought to be just part of the cells waste disposal system, it is now clear that exosomes also act as microscopic delivery bags, protecting RNA and protein contents that can then be transported in the blood, influencing the activity of distant cells.

Exosomes may be useful in Cancer diagnostics and for Drug delivery, transporting therapeutic RNA and DNA, manufactured in cells in-vitro, to specific diseased cells. In some cases, exosomes mediate the benefits of Stem cell therapy.

One of the major technical hurdles facing the Exosome field is the efficient purification of intact exosomes. The gold standard for their purification is currently ultra-centrifugation, which is time-consuming and inefficient. Commercially available exosome precipitants, used in a small number of labs, yield exosome preparations of relatively low purity, in which the precipitant remains as a contaminant.

Exo-spin™ kits for exosome purification, launched today by Cell Guidance Systems, overcome all of these shortcomings. Exo-spin™ is based on technology licensed from A*STAR in Singapore. Exo-spin™ kits are suitable for the preparation of pure, functional exosomes from a variety of biological fluids including blood plasma/sera, cell culture media, urine, saliva.

Dr Michael Jones, CEO of Cell Guidance Systems, commented, "Talking to exosome researchers, it is clear that the current options for exosome purification have significant shortcomings. Exo-spin™ is a breakthrough in reliable purification of exosomes that will enable the entire field to move forward more rapidly." Exo-spin™ provides a gentle purification process in which no organic phases are used, no ultracentrifugation is employed and the exosomes are purified free of precipitants in as little as one hour.

About Cell Guidance Systems Ltd

Cell Guidance Systems provides reagents and tools for stem cell science and related fields. From its Cambridge, UK headquarters, the company manufactures and supplies growth factors, small molecules and the Pluripro® culture system for the confluent growth of human pluripotent cells. The company also recently introduced the SINEUP™ gene expression technology for knock-up of endogenous genes and offers a quality karyotyping services.

Contact: [email protected]
More info www.cellgs.com/exosomes

SOURCE Cell Guidance Systems