Traditional PRP Systems vs. ExoCube™: beyond platelet concentration

As regenerative medicine continues to evolve, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has become one of the most widely used autologous biologic therapies. Conventional PRP systems are designed to separate and concentrate platelets from whole blood, providing a practical and well-established method for delivering platelet-derived growth factors to target tissues.

However, platelet concentration represents only one component of the biological environment involved in tissue repair.

While platelets are important reservoirs of growth factors and regenerative mediators, tissue repair involves a complex network of platelet-derived mediators, plasma-derived regulatory proteins, cytokines, soluble signaling molecules, and naturally occurring extracellular vesicle (EV)-sized particles. This broader collection of bioactive molecules is commonly referred to as the autologous secretome. [4,5,7,9]

Traditional PRP systems are designed to concentrate platelets.

ExoCube™ follows a different biological and processing strategy designed to activate, filter, and concentrate a broader autologous secretome.

Traditional PRP Systems

Traditional PRP systems are designed with a single primary objective: preparing platelet-rich plasma by concentrating platelets through centrifugation.

Depending on the system, the final PRP may be leukocyte-poor or leukocyte-rich, low-volume or high-volume, moderately concentrated or highly concentrated. Comparative studies have demonstrated considerable variability among commercial systems in platelet concentration, leukocyte content, red blood cell contamination, cytokine profiles, and growth factor composition. [2,3,6]

While highly effective for platelet enrichment, the final biological composition of PRP can vary depending on patient baseline values, blood draw volume, centrifugation protocol, leukocyte content, activation method, and collection technique. [1,2,3,6] Conventional PRP systems are not designed to concentrate the broader plasma secretome beyond the platelet-rich fraction.

Platelet-rich ≠ Secretome-rich

ExoCube™: A Next-Generation Biological Strategy

ExoCube™ is not simply another platelet-concentrating PRP system.

Rather than focusing solely on platelet enrichment, ExoCube™ integrates platelet activation, filtration, and concentration within a standardized, closed workflow. The objective is not simply to produce platelet-rich plasma, but to increase the deliverable autologous biological payload obtained from blood-derived plasma. [7,8]

The resulting biological payload is designed to include not only platelet-derived growth factors, but also plasma-derived regulatory proteins, soluble cytokines, signaling molecules, and naturally occurring extracellular vesicle-sized particles. [7,8,9]

Why the Difference Matters

PRP-focused systems remain valuable tools in regenerative medicine. They provide a practical method for preparing autologous platelet-rich plasma from whole blood, with strengths in platelet enrichment, ease of use, and compatibility with point-of-care clinical workflows.

However, their biological scope is mainly defined by the platelet-rich fraction.

ExoCube™ aims to move beyond platelet concentration alone by focusing on the broader secretome. This may be especially relevant in biological environments where tissue repair requires more than growth factor release. Inflammation control, matrix protection, angiogenesis, cellular migration, immune modulation, and extracellular matrix remodeling are coordinated by multiple mediators acting together. [4,5,7,9,10]

For example, platelet-derived growth factors may support cell proliferation and angiogenesis, while plasma-derived regulatory proteins such as alpha-2-macroglobulin may contribute to anti-catabolic activity by inhibiting tissue-degrading enzymes. [10] Other mediators, including HGF, IGF, and IRAP, may support tissue repair, cell survival, and modulation of inflammatory pathways. [4,5]

In this context, a broader concentrated secretome may provide a more complex biological signal than platelet concentration alone.

Contact us to learn more about the next generation of PRP

Citations

  1. Costa, F. R., Purita, J., Martins, R., Pires, L., Mahmood, A., Santos, G. S., Kruel, A., Protásio Netto, J., & Lana, J. F. (2026). Beyond Platelet Count: Rethinking Platelet-Rich Plasma Efficacy Through Growth Factor Biology and Functional Quality. Life, 16(2), 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16020188

  2. Edwards, D. R., Murphy, G., Reynolds, J. J., Whitham, S. E., Docherty, A. J. P., Angel, P., & Heath, J. K. (1987). Transforming growth factor beta modulates the expression of collagenase and metalloproteinase inhibitor. The EMBO Journal, 6(7), 1899–1904.

  3. Morris C. D. (1968). Observations on the effect of glass beads on platelet aggregation and its relation to platelet stickiness. Thrombosis et diathesis haemorrhagica, 20(3), 345–353.

  4. Wang, S., Wei, X., Zhou, J., Zhang, J., Li, K., Chen, Q., Terek, R., Fleming, B. C., Goldring, M. B., Ehrlich, M. G., Zhang, G., & Wei, L. (2014). Identification of α2-macroglobulin as a master inhibitor of cartilage-degrading factors that attenuates the progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.), 66(7), 1843–1853. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.38576

  5. Meijer H, Reinecke J, Becker C, Tholen G, Wehling P. The production of anti-inflammatory cytokines in whole blood by physico-chemical induction. Inflamm Res. 2003;52(10):404-407. doi:10.1007/s00011-003-1197-1

  6. Baltzer AW, Moser C, Jansen SA, Krauspe R. Autologous conditioned serum (Orthokine) is an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2009;17(2):152-160. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2008.05.010

  7. Wehling P, Moser C, Frisbie D, et al. Autologous conditioned serum in the treatment of orthopedic diseases: the Orthokine therapy. BioDrugs. 2007;21(5):323-332.

  8. Magalon J, Bausset O, Veran J, et al. Physico-chemical factors influencing autologous conditioned serum purification. Blood Transfus. 2014;12(Suppl 1):s573-s584. doi:10.2450/2013.0250-12

  9. Rutgers M, Saris DBF, Dhert WJA, Creemers LB. Cytokine profile of autologous conditioned serum for treatment of osteoarthritis, in vitro effects on cartilage metabolism and intra-articular levels after injection. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(3):R114. doi:10.1186/ar3050

  10. Fernández-Pernas P, Barrachina L, Marquina M, et al. A comparative review of autologous conditioned serum and autologous protein solution for treatment of osteoarthritis in horses. Front Vet Sci. 2021;8:602978. doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.602978

  11. Pishgahi A, Roshangar L, Afkham-Daghdaghan M, Pourabbas B, Yousefi M. The therapeutic effects of autologous conditioned serum on knee osteoarthritis: an animal model. BMC Res Notes. 2022;15:280. doi:10.1186/s13104-022-06166-1

  12. Knieć K, Kowalski K, Domżalski M, Gajewski M. Deep or superficial? Autologous conditioned serum for cervical pain with degenerative disc disease — a randomized controlled trial. Pain Res Manag. 2025. doi:10.1155/prm/6691691

  13. Showel, K. K., Evans, C. H., De la Vega, R. E., Hawse, G. P., Gonzalez Carta, K., Saris, D. B. F., Sellon, J. L., & Boettcher, B. J. (2025). Preparation of alpha-2 macroglobulin–rich plasma from human blood—technique and compositional analysis of plasma, platelet-rich plasma, platelet-poor plasma, and alpha-2 macroglobulin–rich plasma. Journal of Cartilage and Joint Preservation, 5(4), Article 100255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjp.2025.100255

  14. Everts P, Onishi K, Jayaram P, Lana JF, Mautner K. Profound properties of protein-rich, platelet-rich plasma matrices as novel, multi-purpose biological platforms in tissue repair, regeneration, and wound healing. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(14):7914. doi:10.3390/ijms25147914

  15. Vandooren J, Itoh Y. Alpha-2-macroglobulin in inflammation, immunity and infections. Front Immunol. 2021;12:803244. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.803244

04/21/2026