Sourcing FAQ
The questions credentialed buyers ask before specifying a material — documentation, characterization, logistics, and how quoting works.
Where can I buy research-grade exosomes?
Akira Biotech is a global distributor of research-grade MSC-derived exosomes, supplied to credentialed researchers and clinicians by inquiry. The catalog holds 17 exosome products — a base umbilical cord MSC exosome plus 16 lineage-specific lines — at a standard concentration of 400 billion+ exosomes per mL, with a certificate of analysis on every batch. There is no published price list; pricing is quoted against your requirements and order volume.
Who supplies umbilical cord derived MSCs to clinics?
Akira Biotech supplies umbilical cord tissue–derived mesenchymal stem cells to clinics, research groups, and institutional buyers in jurisdictions where these materials are lawful. All 16 stem-cell products are derived from Wharton's Jelly in donated umbilical cord tissue, manufactured by cGMP- and ISO-aligned laboratory partners, and cryopreserved by a DMSO-free glucose-based method. Materials are sold for research use only.
What is the difference between exosomes and stem cells?
Mesenchymal stem cells are living, multipotent cells that can differentiate and self-renew. Exosomes are the 40–150 nm extracellular vesicles those cells secrete, carrying mRNA, miRNA, proteins, and lipids. Exosomes contain no nuclear material and cannot replicate, so they deliver cargo once rather than persisting and responding to the tissue around them.
What is the difference between exosomes and secretomes?
Exosomes are the vesicular fraction of what a cell secretes. A secretome is the complete secreted output: the exosomes plus the soluble fraction — proteins, cytokines, and growth factors, including molecules too large or too hydrophilic to be packaged into a vesicle. Exosome products are the more concentrated and more targeted preparation; secretomes carry broader paracrine signalling, with more than 400 proteins identified per batch by LC-MS/MS.
What is the difference between Wharton's Jelly and bone marrow MSCs?
Wharton's Jelly MSCs are perinatal cells recovered non-invasively from donated umbilical cord tissue, while bone marrow MSCs are adult cells recovered by marrow aspiration. Perinatal cells show higher proliferation rates and longer telomeres than adult MSCs, secrete more of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β, and express low levels of MHC class II, which reduces the risk of immune rejection and makes them suitable for allogeneic use without HLA matching.
How are exosomes shipped and stored?
Exosomes are shipped cryopreserved under a temperature-controlled cold chain that runs from the partner laboratory to the receiving dock. On arrival they are held in cold storage until use, and must not be refrozen once thawed. Sourcing and logistics for every product run through the United States. Confirm your receiving site can accept and store cryopreserved material before a first order ships.
What certifications should an exosome supplier have?
Ask for evidence that the manufacturing partner operates under cGMP- and ISO-aligned standards, and ask to see a sample certificate of analysis before ordering. A COA should record identity markers, purity, potency, genomic stability, and safety testing for the specific batch you are buying. No certification makes a research-use product FDA-approved, and any supplier presenting cGMP as regulatory approval is describing something that does not exist.
What does cGMP-aligned mean for cell products?
cGMP stands for current Good Manufacturing Practice, the regulatory framework governing manufacturing quality. A cGMP-aligned laboratory manufactures to that framework's standards for facility, process, documentation, and release testing. It describes how the material was made — it is not an approval of the product, and it does not mean the material has been reviewed by the FDA or any other regulatory authority.
How many exosomes are in a typical vial?
The standard concentration is 400 billion or more exosomes per mL, so a 1 mL vial contains 400 billion+. High-dose SKUs are filled larger: dermal papilla exosomes are supplied as 3 mL containing 1.2 trillion+ and 4 mL containing 1.6 trillion+, and the RPE exosome product is a 2 mL fill at 800 billion+. Particle counts are validated by nanoparticle tracking analysis on every batch.
What post-thaw viability should I expect?
Akira Biotech's strongest-potency MSC products are released at 98% or greater post-thaw viability. Post-thaw viability is the percentage of cells alive after cryopreservation and thawing, and it is the key quality metric for any shipped cell product. It should appear as a measured number on the certificate of analysis for the batch, not as a general claim about the product line.
What is in a certificate of analysis?
A certificate of analysis is the per-batch document recording identity, purity, potency, and safety testing. For cell products that means the immunophenotype, the absence markers CD34−, CD45− and HLA-DR−, karyotyping for genomic stability, post-thaw viability, and sterility and pathogen testing. For exosomes it means the tetraspanin identity markers CD9⁺, CD63⁺ and CD81⁺, an NTA-validated particle count, and sterility. Every Akira Biotech batch ships with one.
Are Akira Biotech products approved by the FDA?
No. All products are supplied for research use only. They are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority, they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and they are not for use in or on humans. Product descriptions and site content are informational and make no claims regarding safety, efficacy, or clinical outcomes.
What are your minimum order quantities and lead times?
Minimum order quantity and lead time are quoted per product and per destination, because both depend on the fill size, the manufacturing batch schedule, and the shipping route to your receiving site. Send the products, fills, and destination you need and the sales team will confirm both in writing along with pricing.
How do I get pricing?
No prices are published on this site. Pricing is by personalized quote based on your requirements and order volume, and every conversion path resolves to the sales team: the contact form, the portal access application, or the inquiry link on any product page. Portal access is free and applications are approved in two to three business days.
These are experimental use cases, provided as a scientific reference for researchers. Except where noted, they did not use Akira Biotech materials, and results may not be reproducible with ours. Akira Biotech supplies laboratory reagents for research use only. Our products are NOT approved by FDA or any regulatory authority and are not for use in or on humans.
Need Access to Full Product Information?
Our client portal provides detailed specifications, protocols, certificates of analysis, and streamlined ordering for qualified researchers and healthcare professionals.