Autologous Exosome Therapy

Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles — roughly 30 to 150 nanometres in diameter — that cells release to communicate with one another. They carry growth factors, signalling proteins, lipids and microRNAs that instruct surrounding cells to repair tissue, reduce inflammation and regenerate. Because exosomes deliver these signals directly into target cells, they are considered one of the most active components of regenerative biology.

They come from you. The MCT System we use prepares autologous (your own) exosomes by stimulating your own platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with carefully controlled light and temperature. There are no donor cells, no synthetic exosomes and no foreign biological material — the entire preparation is derived from a sample of your own blood drawn the same day.

Yes. The MCT System is a Health Canada–approved medical device. It also carries CE 0051 marking, EU-MDR conformity and ISO 13485:2016 medical-device quality-management certification. The MCT Kit used in each procedure is a single-use Class IIa medical device with a patented optical geometry that ensures the light energy reaches the platelets evenly and reproducibly.

Standard PRP injects concentrated platelets that release their contents over a relatively short period after injection. With the MCT System, your PRP is preconditioned using photo-thermal stimulation — specific wavelengths of light combined with controlled cooling — which dramatically increases exosome release, more than doubles ATP production and roughly triples key growth factors (EGF, bFGF, VEGF) compared to untreated PRP. The result is a more physiological, less inflammatory, longer-acting regenerative preparation.

The visit follows the same flow as a standard PRP appointment. A small blood sample is drawn and centrifuged to separate the PRP. The PRP is poured into the single-use MCT Kit, placed inside the MCT Unit, and run through the Exosomes preset — a precisely calibrated cycle of light wavelength, irradiance and temperature that primes the platelets to release exosomes. The preconditioned plasma is then injected into the treatment area, often under ultrasound guidance.

Most patients report that the injection is more comfortable than standard PRP. The thermal preconditioning step delays clot onset and produces a less dense plasma, which makes the injection itself feel softer. The blood draw is identical to a routine lab test.

Treatment plans are individualized. Many patients follow a course of one to three sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, similar to standard PRP. Because photo-thermal stimulation produces a more sustained release of growth factors, results often build over several months — early improvement is typical within two to six weeks, with continued benefit through three to six months.

No. Autologous exosome therapy with the MCT System is a private-pay regenerative procedure and is not covered by OHIP. Many extended-health benefit plans cover a portion of the cost — we issue detailed receipts you can submit to your insurer. Pricing is reviewed in detail at your consultation.

It is a fundamentally different treatment. The exosome treatments offered at most aesthetic and dermatology clinics in Canada use donor or laboratory-produced exosomes (brands like BENEV, Purasomes or AMPLEX+) applied topically to the skin or scalp after microneedling, primarily for skin rejuvenation and hair growth. The MCT System used at Oakville Pain Clinic prepares exosomes from your own platelets and injects them directly into joints, tendons and soft tissues for orthopedic regenerative care. We are one of the only clinics in Ontario offering an autologous, injected, photo-thermal orthopedic exosome programme on a Health Canada-approved device.

MCT exosome therapy is used for the same musculoskeletal conditions where standard PRP is effective, but typically as a more potent option for patients seeking maximum regenerative response. Common applications include knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), Achilles and patellar tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, hip pain (gluteal tendinopathy), wrist and thumb-base osteoarthritis, and chronic sports injuries.

Photo-thermal preconditioning produces a sustained release of growth factors for up to approximately 28 days following injection, supporting prolonged tissue repair. Most patients report continued improvement over 3 to 6 months as new tissue forms and remodels. As with PRP, results vary by condition, severity, age and individual healing response.

MCT exosome therapy is essentially photo-thermal-enhanced PRP — it builds on the same regenerative principle but produces substantially more exosomes, growth factors and ATP than untreated PRP (≈3× growth factors and ≈2× ATP in published studies). For most patients standard PRP works very well; exosome therapy is the option to consider when you want a more potent regenerative response, when prior PRP has plateaued, or for harder-to-treat chronic tendinopathies.

No. We accept self-referrals — you can book directly through our online self-referral form or by phone (647-910-5359) and our team contacts you within 24 hours. We also accept referrals from family doctors, sports-medicine physicians, physiotherapists and chiropractors.

Yes — the MCT (Meta Cell Technology) System is also used by some Toronto hair-restoration and dermatology clinics for aesthetic exosome treatments. We use the same Health Canada-approved device, but for a different application: orthopedic regenerative care, with autologous exosomes injected into joints, tendons and soft tissues — not topically applied for skin or hair. Same technology platform, very different use case and clinical training.

We aim to be honest about this. Most published research on regenerative joint and tendon care is on PRP (over 100 randomized clinical trials) rather than on dedicated orthopedic exosome therapy. The MCT System is best understood as an enhancement of standard PRP: photo-thermal preconditioning has been shown to substantially increase exosome release, growth-factor concentration and ATP production from your own platelets compared to untreated PRP. So MCT exosome therapy builds on PRP's well-established evidence base rather than being a fundamentally separate treatment with its own large body of orthopedic RCTs. Dedicated orthopedic studies of MCT-style autologous exosome therapy are an emerging area. We discuss this honestly with every patient at consultation so you can make an informed choice between standard PRP and MCT exosome therapy.

Autologous exosome therapy with the MCT System is a private-pay procedure not covered by OHIP. Pricing varies based on the treatment area, the number of sessions recommended for your condition, and whether ultrasound guidance is used. Detailed pricing is reviewed at your consultation, and we issue itemized receipts you can submit to your extended-health insurance — many plans cover a portion under regenerative medicine, sports medicine or specialist injection benefits.