Rapid and Precise
Extracellular Vesicle Isolation

Reproducible results require reproducible isolation, but not all methods are created equal. While a range of techniques can be used to isolate exosomes and other extracellular vesicles (EVs), many are irreproducible, laborious, and/or offer low levels of EV purity and recovery. qEV columns, however, harness size exclusion chromatography to separate EVs from soluble protein and deliver highly purified EVs in an efficient and standardised manner. qEV columns are available in an array of sizes, allowing rapid separation to be achieved for a wide range of biofluids and sample volumes.

Browse qEV columns

Isolate EVs in minutes, not hours

Forget centrifugation marathons - EVs elute from qEV columns within 15 minutes.

Simple & reproducible

Consistently and easily separate EVs from soluble proteins with qEV columns. Combine with the Automatic Fraction Collector to enhance reproducibility and ease of use.

A gentle approach to EV isolation

qEV columns offer a gentle approach to isolation, allowing EVs to remain intact.

Figure 1.

Eluted protein and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and similarly sized particles >60 nm in human plasma (0.5 mL loading volume) separated on qEVoriginal/35 nm Gen 2 and qEVoriginal/70 nm Gen 2 columns. EV concentration was measured using an Exoid and protein levels by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay. Faded bars represent calculated individual concentrations based off pooled sample measurements.
*Volumes are labelled as the highest volume in that sample i.e label “0.4” refers to the volume from 0.0-0.4 mL after the buffer volume, label “0.8” refers to the volume from 0.4-0.8 mL after the buffer volume and so on.

Isolate Highly Purified Extracellular Vesicles

qEV columns are widely used in the extracellular vesicle (EV) field, for reasons that extend beyond their ease of use and gentle, efficient approach. qEV columns use principles of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to separate contaminating soluble protein from exosomes and other EVs. Izon’s Gen 2 qEV columns remove approximately 99% of soluble protein – delivering even more highly purified samples than was possible with the existing range (Legacy qEV columns). As the co-isolation of non-EV components impacts downstream applications and analysis, the question of purity in EV isolation is an important one. Following qEV isolation, EVs can then be studied using a range of techniques including tunable resistive pulse sensing, electron microscopy, proteomics and RNA analysis.

View qEV range

How qEV Isolation Columns Work

qEV isolation is based on principles of size exclusion chromatography, a method in which molecules and particles in solution are separated by their size as they pass through a column consisting of porous resin particles. In qEV isolation, larger particles are unable to enter pores in the resin, and instead flow through the resin relatively quickly. In contrast, particles smaller than the lower end of the isolation range (35 nm or 70 nm) enter pores in the resin, which slows their journey. Through this size-based separation, EVs and soluble protein are separated to a high degree of resolution, and a purified volume can be obtained.

qEV Isolation is Now Automated & Highly Scalable

The AFC automates extracellular vesicle (EV) isolation and enables precise and reproducible separation. Previously, the process of EV isolation has been labour-intensive and difficult to scale. Using the AFC, together with qEV size exclusion chromatography columns, EV isolation can be achieved easily and with minimal intervention.

Learn more about the AFC

Introducing qEV Gen 2

The new range of qEV columns are made with an agarose resin, which delivers a more purified extracellular vesicle (EV)-containing eluate. The release of Gen 2 qEV columns are in line with the need to support the rapidly growing areas of EV research and applications, where sample purity has a huge impact on results downstream.

Learn more about qEV Gen 2

Figure 3.

Legacy vs Gen 2. Data shown for a human plasma sample collected on qEV original columns, 0.5 mL loading volume.

Choose a qEV Isolation Column Optimised for Your Research

To meet your research needs, we have a range of qEV Isolation Columns suited to different particle size isolation ranges and sample volumes.
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When selecting a qEV column, consider the ideal purified collection volume (PCV) you require for downstream analysis, the sample loading volume, and how much contaminating lipoprotein overlap is acceptable.
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To select the most appropriate column for your research follow these two steps:

Step 1 / Choose Your Column Size

Column size selection is based on the sample loading volume required. Each column has a sample loading volume recommended for highest purity. If you are not sure which column is the right size, please contact the Izon team.
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Izon products are designed and manufactured under a quality system certified to ISO 13485:2016.

qEVsingle
150 µL

Sample loading (recommended for highest purity).

Ideal for small biological samples

Optimised for small samples. Compatible with the AFC.

Single use

No RNA carryover (single use).