RNA enclosed within the lipid bilayer of EVs is protected from extracellular RNase activity, which stabilises the EV-associated fraction. However, plasma also contains stable non-EV miRNA. This fraction is bound to Argonaute proteins and associated with HDL and other lipoproteins (Arroyo et al., PNAS 2011, PMID 21383194), and it is not rapidly degraded either. EV-enclosed RNA and total plasma RNA therefore represent complementary, partially overlapping biomarker compartments. EV RNA is not the only stable fraction. Both compartments are informative and are studied in parallel in broad liquid biopsy pipelines.
Extracellular Vesicles / Exosomes
Exosome RNA Extraction Kits for miRNA, mRNA and cfDNA
Exosome RNA extraction kits for miRNA, mRNA and cfDNA
When you need an exosome RNA extraction kit that preserves small-RNA fractions below 200 nt, standard total-RNA columns fall short. Dedicated precipitation-plus-column workflows solve this. The purification chemistry is Norgen's patented silica carbide membrane, which binds RNA of any size or GC content in your sample without bias, giving you consistent recovery across RNA sizes. They combine an initial EV enrichment step with spin-column purification tuned for exosomal miRNA isolation from serum or plasma.
These kits work with EVs from any prior isolation method you use, whether precipitation, size-exclusion chromatography, or immunoaffinity capture. IZON qEV column users have a dedicated option: the Exosomal RNA Isolation Kit (for EVs isolated using IZON qEV columns), Cat#68910-NB. Extended protocols cover conditioned media with a single-tube workflow.
For cfDNA extraction from your EVs, combined RNA and DNA capture kits retain both nucleic acid species in a single workflow, avoiding the need for separate extractions.
Input volumes span 200 ul to several ml of your biofluid. Kits are available for serum, plasma, conditioned media, urine, and CSF, and application support is available on request for other biofluids. Output RNA is compatible with qPCR, RT-qPCR, next-generation sequencing library preparation, and hybridisation-based miRNA arrays.
Norgen EXTRAClean kits are validated for NGS-based workflows, with purity suited to library preparation input. Bundles that isolate EVs and then extract the RNA in the same workflow are also available. Application support helps you find the right bundle for your sample type and downstream use.
Choose your exosome RNA extraction kit by starting material and output.
-
Starting material. Serum or plasma: precipitation-based kits with column purification retain the small-RNA fraction effectively for your samples. Conditioned media: single-tube or spin-column kits designed for larger volumes of your low-particle-density media. Urine or CSF: method guidance is available for these low-abundance biofluids.
-
Output species. Small RNA and miRNA only: column formats with size-exclusion membranes retain fragments below 200 nt by design, matched to your target size. Total RNA including mRNA: extended-protocol kits recover a broader size range for your downstream assay. DNA as well as RNA: combined RNA/DNA kits co-purify cfDNA cargo in the same spin-column run.
-
Downstream application. qPCR or RT-qPCR: any exosome RNA extraction kit works for you. NGS small-RNA library prep: check that your kit removes inhibitors that affect ligation efficiency. Amplification-based miRNA profiling: a dedicated miRNA amplification kit compensates for low exosomal RNA input.
-
Input volume. Under 500 ul: standard serum/plasma kits work at this scale. Above 1 ml, kits rated for larger biofluid volumes protect your column from overloading.
Applications
Cancer liquid biopsy miRNA profiling
miRNA cargo from plasma or serum EVs carries disease signatures that resist nuclease degradation. Pairing it with miRNA profiling kits gives you validation.
Long RNA and intercellular messaging studies
Long non-coding RNA, circular RNA, and mRNA fragments from EVs inform transcriptomic studies of messaging between donor and recipient cells.
cfDNA mutation and copy-number analysis
Co-purification of cell-free DNA from EVs enables mutation and copy-number analysis in minimally invasive oncology workflows.
Small-RNA sequencing and miRNome discovery
EV-purified RNA supports small-RNA-seq library prep for broad miRNome profiling. RNA library preparation kits give you compatible workflows.
RT-qPCR biomarker validation
Purified exosomal miRNA works directly with RT-qPCR for targeted validation of candidate biomarkers, normalised against spike-in controls such as cel-miR-39.
Multi-biofluid biomarker studies
Extraction kits cover serum, plasma, conditioned media, urine, and CSF. Pairing them with exosome isolation reagents gives you upstream enrichment across biofluids.
Product Catalog
Browse the Catalog
Exosome RNA & DNA Purification
Exosome RNA Extraction Kits for miRNA, mRNA & cfDNA
Frequently asked questions
Typical yields from 1 ml of plasma are in the range of 1 to 10 ng total RNA. Most of this is small RNA below 200 nucleotides. Yield varies significantly with the isolation method, the individual donor, and sample handling. Low-input RNA amplification kits or digital PCR are often required downstream to quantify targets at this concentration level.
Yes. Combined RNA/DNA kits use column chemistry that retains both nucleic acid species from a single lysate. Alternatively, you can omit DNase treatment during an RNA-only extraction to retain DNA. You can also collect separate RNA and DNA elutions at different elution conditions. Reporting both RNA and DNA cargo from the same preparation is useful for broad EV nucleic acid profiling studies.
RT-qPCR with miRNA-specific primers is the most common downstream application. For discovery work, small-RNA-seq library preparation from EV-purified RNA enables broad miRNome profiling. miRNA arrays covering hundreds of targets can be hybridised with amplified product from low-input amplification kits. Normalisation to a synthetic spike-in RNA added before extraction, such as cel-miR-39, controls for extraction efficiency across samples.
Product catalogs
Not sure which catalog to start with? We will help you find the right products.
Tell us what you are looking for — antibodies, kits, proteins, or supplies — and our team will point you to the best catalog filters, suppliers, and product matches for your workflow.
