Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, are small vesicles consisting of a lipid bilayer and are released by cells. EVs encapsulate nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, serving as mediators of intercellular communication in living organisms. EVs are the subject of active research in various fields including immunology, cancer, neurology, and metabolism.
EVs have diverse applications, and are expected to be used as therapeutics, biomarkers, and drug delivery systems (DDS). In particular, EVs secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted attention not only in the medical field but also in the cosmetics and food industries because of their anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and tissue repair effects.1)
The practical application of EVs requires technology capable of efficiently isolating and purifying high-purity EVs in large quantities. In collaboration with Prof. Hanayama of the Department of Immunology at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Fujifilm Wako has developed the MassivEV™ EV Purification Column PS, which utilizes our proprietary EV isolation and purification technology known as the PS affinity method.2) Used in conjunction with the specialized MassivEV™ Purification Buffer Set, this system enables convenient isolation and purification of EVs, including exosomes, from liter-scale cell culture supernatants.