(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Taking into account the shortcomings of organ transplants and to advance research into stem cell therapy, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) will soon install a quantum bioreactor in its haematology department.
The machine is the first of its kind in Oman and in the Middle East, according to Dr Salam bin Salim al Kindi, head of SQUH's haematology department.
As cord blood preservation gains popularity, these cost-effective bioreactors can help grow Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in large quantities in a short time and fast-track stem cell experimentation.
Manufactured by US-based Terumo Group, this medical technology doesn't need an expensive set-up.
''Usually when you grow stem cells you should follow Good Manufacturing Practice procedures, which is a sterile but expensive set-up. However, all this is not required with the new bioreactor,'' said Dr Kindi.
''It works in a closed system and all you need to do is put the patient's stem cells into the machine. Along with the appropriate nutrients and under proper stimulus, it will reproduce MSCs,'' he added.
MSCs can be found in the bone marrow of humans or can be isolated from other sources such as cord blood, peripheral blood, fallopian tube and from foetal liver and lung.
They are multipotent, meaning they can produce more than one type of specialised cell of the body.
They can differentiate into cartilage cells, bone cells or fat cells, which is why MSCs can improve the function of the affected body part and can be followed instead of organ transplant.
Not withstanding the shortage in donated organs, transplants can be risky as a heart taken from a donor may be rejected by the recipient's body or the latter might need life-long immune suppressing medication instead.
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Oman's SQUH to install bioreactor for stem cell reproduction, study