Human Blood Exosomes: Isolation and Characterization Methods, Variability, and the Need for Standardized Protocols—A Review

AUTHORS

Elena Sánchez-Vizcaíno Mengual, Laura Cordero, Hernán Pinto

ABSTRACT

Background/Objectives: As bioactive extracellular vesicles, exosomes participate in cellular communication and disease mechanisms, yet their structural complexity continues to challenge standard analytical methodologies. This review summarizes published studies reporting exosome concentrations in human plasma, serum, and platelet-rich plasma from healthy individuals and highlights methodological differences. Methods: A comprehensive PubMed search (1986–31 August 2025) was performed using terms related to exosomes and their quantification, excluding cancer- and disease-related studies.