Extracellular vesicles released by mesenchymal stromal cells are widely studied as cell-free therapies because they deliver microRNAs that regulate inflammation, angiogenesis and tissue repair. However, the impact of advanced purification methods on their molecular cargo is still not fully understood.
Here, a fluorescence-based flow cytometry sorting strategy is assessed to isolate intact extracellular vesicles from human adipose stromal cells and to evaluate its effects on microRNA content. Sorted vesicles are compared with those obtained by conventional ultracentrifugation.
The results show that sorting preserves vesicle size, structure and surface identity while reducing overall microRNA diversity. Crucially, the most abundant and biologically relevant microRNAs are retained and remain linked to key pathways involved in inflammation control and tissue repair.
This study highlights a clear trade-off between vesicle purity and molecular complexity and provides guidance for optimizing extracellular vesicle isolation for clinical applications.
The work entitled “Impact of Flow Cytometry-Based Sorting on microRNA Signature of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: a proof-of-concept study” was published on Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids (published on Jan. 21, 2026).
DOI：10.20517/evcna.2025.130