中央大学材料化学系日籍教授樋口亜绀与国泰临床医学研究中心主任凌庆东等人共同合作，利用生物反应器直接从体外培养出造血干细胞、再透过薄膜过滤法纯化。樋口亜绀表示，传统方法需要花5至8小时将脐带血纯化，新方法只需要半小时，这个研究成果已发表于《化学评论》（Chemical Review）期刊网路版。

他说，目前造血干细胞来源主要有骨髓移殖、周边血移殖和脐带血移殖。以国人较熟悉的脐带血移殖来说，目前限制20公斤以下的小儿病患使用，但细胞数量较少、需较长时间移殖，失败率较高。

樋口亜绀带领的实验室，利用具有羧酸基奈米片段的薄膜，分离、纯化周边血液和脐带血中的造血干细胞，可以得到损坏率更低、数量更多的造血干细胞。他说，虽然新方法得到的干细胞纯度较低，但效率高、细胞增殖能力佳，未来将朝著如何保存纯化出来、但未分化的干细胞努力。

http://udn.com/NEWS/HEALTH/HEA2/6203440.shtml

Researchers in Taiwan report breakthrough in 'cell rejuvenation'
2011/03/10 21:21:21

In spite of the low success rate, the authoritative Chemical Review published the research report in its current online issue, saying the technique had good prospects.

The research team also reported that it has designed a method to quickly collect stem cells, a technique that it said may some day be used to help treat leukemia.

The method uses a cubic-structured, nano-meter cell membrane that can filter and collect stem cells in 1/10 of the usual time, Higuchi said.

This technique also helps speed the growth of cultured stem cells by at least six times the normal rate, he said.

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood are not in high supply and the faster they are collected the more slowly they age, according to Cathay General Hospital Vice President Hung Kun-lung.

Therefore, Higuchi's quick collection technique means the cells could multiply faster in culture and may one day help develop a cure for people suffering from leukemia and other diseases, he said.

Higuchi said he was working on another project to extract stem cells from fat tissues, a technique that he said would mature in about five years time.

By that time, "we might be able to induce stem cells to grow as myocardium or heart muscle cells, which would be beneficial to people with ischemic heart disease," he said. (By Chen Ching-fang and S.C. Chang) enditem/pc

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201103100027