Exosome and Secretome Injection

What are they?

• Stem cells repair tissue mainly by releasing chemical “messages”, not by turning into new cartilage
• Labs grow donor stem cells, usually from umbilical cord, placenta, bone marrow or fat, then collect these messages
• No living cells are injected, so doctors call this “cell-free / non-cellular” therapy
• SECRETOME: the whole mixture the cells release, including proteins, growth factors and tiny bubbles
• EXOSOME: the tiny bubbles, purified from that mixture. They carry proteins and genetic signals to other cells
• Think of secretome as the whole mailbag, and exosomes as the sealed envelopes inside it
• Products with the same name can differ greatly in source, quality and strength
• Skin-care or plant-based “exosome” products are not the same and must never be injected into a joint

How do they compare with PRP?

• Source: PRP comes from your own blood. Exosome and secretome come from donor cells.
• Preparation: PRP is prepared on the same day in the clinic. Exosome and secretome are made in advance in a lab.
• PRP research: Over 15 years of clinical trials. Many show better pain relief than HA at 6 to 12 months, though not every patient benefits.
• Exosome and secretome research: Promising in lab and animal studies. Human studies are small and early, with mixed results. One trial showed some improvement, another found no benefit over a saline injection.
• Cartilage: No injection, including PRP and exosome, is proven to regrow cartilage in humans.

Who may be suitable?

• Mild to moderate knee arthritis on X-ray
• Pain confirmed by a doctor to come from the knee joint, not the hip or back
• HA helped before but the effect wore off
• Already doing strengthening exercise and managing weight
• Understands that results are not guaranteed
• Ideally, treated within a registered research study

Who should avoid it?

• Severe arthritis with a bent or unstable knee
• Infection anywhere, especially skin around the knee
• Current or past cancer, as the long-term effect of these growth signals is unknown
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Active gout or rheumatoid arthritis flare

Possible side effects

• Pain, swelling and stiffness for 1 to 3 days (common)
• Bruising at the injection site
• Joint infection (rare, but serious)
• Reaction to donor material, such as rash or fever
• See a doctor urgently if your knee becomes hot, red, very swollen, or you develop a fever

Quick Tip

Walk away if you hear “guaranteed to regrow cartilage” or “you will never need surgery”.

Get assessed before you decide.