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Table 1 Overview of EV isolation methods

From: Therapeutic roles of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in cancer

Isolation method

Principle

Advantages

Disadvantages

References

Differential ultracentrifugation

Based on differential centrifugation

Most commonly used and well established

Simple

Economical

Relatively high yield

Low purity

Low upscale potential

[31, 34]

Density gradient ultracentrifugation

Based on density gradient of solutions

Relatively high purity

Maintain EV integrity

Time-consuming

Lower yield

Low upscale potential

[31, 34]

Size exclusion chromatography

Based on particle size

Economical

Relatively high purity

Maintain EV integrity

High upscale potential

Time-consuming

Lower yield

Contamination

[32]

Tangential flow filtration

Based on particle size

High yield

High purity

High time-efficiency

High upscale potential

Complicated equipment

Difficult operation

Limited understanding

[33, 35]

Affinity capture

Based on interaction of capture molecule with EV antigen

High purity

Specific separation

Low yield

Costly

Separate targeted proteins only

[31, 34]