Methods and systems for processing exosomes

1. A method of processing exosomes from a biologic sample, comprising:

a) providing a biological sample having a mixed population of exosomes comprising two or more subpopulations of exosomes having a different subpopulation characteristic;

b) labelling a subpopulation of exosomes by binding RNA molecules encapsulated within the subpopulation to labelled binding agents; and

c) selectively capturing the labelled subpopulation of exosomes to remove the labelled subpopulation from the mixed population of exosomes thereby obtaining a sample enriched with a desired subpopulation of exosomes.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of selectively capturing the labelled binding agents permits passage of remaining exosomes.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the label is a magnetic particle or a particle that is magnetizable and the step of capturing the labelled subpopulation comprises exposing particles to a magnetic field or an electric field.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the particles have different characteristics that permit capture and selective release by modulation of the magnetic field or the electric field.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the binding agents are oligonucleotides labeled with magnetic particles for capture using a magnetic field.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising de-nuding a binding agent and RNA molecule pair from the surrounding exosome.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the enriched subpopulation is a captured subpopulation.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the enriched subpopulation is a subpopulation that is not captured.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of labelling the subpopulation of exosomes comprises permeating exosome membranes to accept a binding agent prior to capture.