Exosome recovery kit for research debuts on February 24
Product enables rapid, efficient exosome recovery without equipment, significantly advancing research capabilities

　Toyobo Co., Ltd. will begin selling CATAROSEV^TM, a kit designed to efficiently recover exosomes—extracellular vesicles that mediate intercellular communication and are increasingly important in fields such as regenerative medicine—on February 24. Marketed to corporate research labs and academic institutions, the kit requires no expensive equipment such as an ultracentrifuge and enables rapid exosome collection from samples like cell culture supernatant using a simple, efficient procedure.

　In July 2023, the company developed a technology capable of recovering high-purity exosomes from cell culture supernatants and other media using tiny pores and an ion-exchange function.^*1 Building on this technology, the recovery kit introduces an innovative research method that combines the charge-separation capability of a specialized ion-exchanging polymer with the size-exclusion control provided by its proprietary pore-diameter regulation technology. 

　The spinning-top-shaped kit, which contains a filtration membrane, works in three simple steps after filtering a sample—absorption, washing, and elution—through which exosomes are recovered in about 30 minutes^*2. Compared with standard ultracentrifugation, it achieves higher-purity exosome collection in over 90% less time^*2 and yields over 50% more^*2.

　The company plans an active sales promotion targeted at the research divisions of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and relevant companies, as well as academic institutions, highlighting the kit’s advantages of minimal procedural requirements and high-yield production. Additionally, it aims to establish a gold standard in exosome recovery while expanding into global markets, including North America and Europe, where exosome research is thriving. Looking ahead, the company seeks to attain several billion yen in sales by the end of 2035 by broadening its customer base beyond research to include testing and industrial applications.

　The CATAROSEV® kit is expected to broaden access to exosome research—which has largely been confined to a limited number of institutions and facilities—because it does not require expensive equipment or complex procedures. By promoting widespread adoption of the kit, the company will make it easier for diverse research sites to consistently accumulate data and produce comparable results, strengthening the research foundation needed for clinical and industrial applications and improving data quality. Consequently, the company is committed to contributing to significant advances in exosome research, which holds promise for next-generation medical care and industry.

About exosome (extracellular vesicle)

　Exosomes are tiny particles (extracellular vesicles) measuring 50 to 150 nanometers that are secreted from cells. They are present in blood, urine and various other bodily fluids. It has been discovered that exosomes contain proteins and nucleic acids (microRNA, etc.) , and that they play an important role in intercellular communication, cell repair and other functions. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to exosomes as a next-generation modality that can be applied to a wider range of fields, including regenerative medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer. The global market for products used in exosome research is projected to grow at an annual rate exceeding 35%.^*3
 

Product outline of CATAROSEV^TM

CATAROSEVTM’s recovery steps

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