Extracellular vesicles (EV) are small lipid bilayer-bound nanoparticles released by a multitude of different cell types in homeostatic and disease states, acting as messengers in cell-cell and cell-matrix communication as well as in tissue-level signaling. In cardiovascular disease, EVs derived from patient blood samples have been identified as a potent asset bearing both diagnostic and prognostic value. With a distinct signature of surface marker proteins and molecular cargo, specific EV populations found in serum can improve the diagnosis of early stages of cardiac or vascular dysfunction preceding irreversible damage, thus improving disease management.

Standardization of this novel and open EV research field will be crucial in translating experimental results into standard clinical practice. Given the dynamics of serum EV release and degradation, along with the varying EV isolation and purification techniques currently applied in EV research, discoveries on serum-derived EVs still face significant limitations regarding reproducibility and clinical practicability. This Methods Collection aims to contribute to the standardization of serum-derived EV research with a particular focus on the role of serum EVs in cardiovascular diseases encompassing but not limited to acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and inflammatory or calcific valve disease.