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Differential centrifugation is a common procedure in microbiology and cytology that separates organelles from whole cells. It's a type of preparative centrifugation that separates particles based on their size and density. Differential centrifugation is simpler, faster, and cheaper than rate-zonal centrifugation. However, it's less precise and more prone to contamination. Density gradient centrifugation is a variation of differential centrifugation. In this variation, the sample is centrifuged in a medium that gradually increases in density from top to bottom.
How differential centrifugation works: Homogenize a tissue sample to break cell membranes and mix the contents. Use multiple rounds of centrifugation to separate target exosomes from cell debris, larger vesicles, and proteins. Increase the speed of centrifugation each time.
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