Table 2.

Main advantages and disadvantages of the currently available methods for GELNs extraction.

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages	References
Differential centrifugation	Reduced cost and contamination risks; Large sample capacity	High equipment required, time consuming, damage the integrity ELNs	(50, 51, 63, 64)
Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation	Pure preparations; absence of additional chemicals	Complexity, loss of sample; Virus particles cannot be distinguished	(65, 66)
Membrane filtration	High purity; Easy to operate	Membrane contamination, products loss due to attaching to the membranes	(65, 67)
PEG-based precipitation	Easy to operate; maintains EV integrity; no additional equipment required	Contamination and retention of the polymer	(41, 45, 67)
Commercial kits	Easy to operate	Cost; Low purity; Unknown separation mechanism	(22)