Biomedical applications of materials and membranes, Stem cell isolation and purification for regeneration, Medical applications, Biomaterials evaluation, Cell engineering.

Prof. Higuchi is also jointed to a guest researcher in RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, and a visiting professor in King Saud University. He received his Ph.D. in Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1985. He was a Professor in Seikei University from 1993 to 2007. He received Sofue Memorial Award from Society of Fiber Science, Japan in 1994, Seikei Academic Award from Seikei Alumni Association in 2003, and Nanotechnology Outsatnding Contribution Award, National Science Council, Taiwan in 2013. He is interested in the development of materials for stem cell research. He established purification method of hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood and adipose tissue, respectively by filtration method through polymeric porous membranes. He is also developing biomaterials for stem cell culture. He published three articles in Chemical Reviews as first and corresponding author, which has high impact factor of 40.2 higher than Nature or Science and two articles in Progress in Polymer Science (impact factor=26.4).

Professional Activity of Scientific Society:

2011-present    Editorial Board Member of World Journal of Stem Cells (WJSC, China)

2011-present   Councillar of Chemical Society of Japan, Division of Polymer Science

2012-present    Editorial Board Member of Journal of Membrane Separation Technology (Lifescience Global, Canada) 

2014-present  Associate Editor of Physics and Chemistry of Stem Cells (Walter de Gruyter, German)

2013-present  Editor in Chief of American Journal of Tissue Engineering & Stem Cell (Columbia International Publishing, USA)

2014-present   Advisory Board of Journal of Materials Chemistry B (Royal Society of Chemistry, SCI journal, impact factor=6.101)

2014-present   The Asia-Pacific (AP) Council of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) 

2014-present   Editorial Board Member of Journal of Stem Cells Research, Development and Therapy (Herald Scholarly Open Access, USA)

2014-present   Editorial Board Member of Journal of Cytology and Tissue Biology (Herald Scholarly Open Access, USA)

Laboratory Introduction

Our laboratory focuses on developing biomedical materials composed of nanosegments (nanobrushes), on which hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells from tissues and blood can be cultured and preserved.

We also develop filtration methods using polymeric membranes to isolate and purify hematopoietic stem cells from peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood. Membrane filtration can increase the number of hematopoietic stem cells. If applied in medical therapy, increasing the purity and quantity of stem cells from umbilical cord blood could save many patients in urgent need of hematopoietic stem cells, such as those with leukemia and pernicious anemia.

We are further developing DNA biocatalysts applied to the biological detection of cancer antigens and specific proteins in blood. We are also studying the control of nerve cell synapse growth using visible light, hoping to provide possibilities for the development of neuron computers.

Patents:

1. System and method to isolate and to proceed ex vivo culture of hematopoietic stem cells.

2. Crosslinked polyvinylalcohol surfaces having adjustable elasticity for stem cell culture in chemically defined media.