Density-Based Fractionation of Cell-Conditioned Medium to Prepare Proteomics Grade Extracellular Vesicles

Methods Mol Biol. 2023:2718:253-269. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3457-8_14.

Abstract

The identification of the molecular composition of extracellular vesicles (EV) by omics approaches, including proteomics, requires the separation of EV from non-EV confounding factors present in the source biofluid. In this protocol, we present the sequential implementation of density gradient ultracentrifugation and size-exclusion chromatography to prepare EV from cell-conditioned medium with high specificity and repeatability. This approach enables the recovery of intact purified EV suited for downstream functional assays and biomarker discovery by omics approaches.

Keywords: Cell culture; Density gradient; Extracellular vesicles; Proteomics; Size-exclusion chromatography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Fractionation
  • Centrifugation, Density Gradient
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Cytological Techniques* / methods
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Proteomics

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned