Magnetotactic Sperm Cells for Assisted Reproduction

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Friedrich Striggow - , Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Carla Ribeiro - , Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Azaam Aziz - , Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Richard Nauber - , Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Franziska Hebenstreit - , Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Oliver G Schmidt - , Technische Universität Chemnitz, Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Mariana Medina-Sánchez - , Mikro- und Nano-Biosysteme (FoG), Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden (Autor:in)

Abstract

Biohybrid micromotors are active microscopic agents consisting of biological and synthetic components that are being developed as novel tools for biomedical applications. By capturing motile sperm cells within engineered microstructures, they can be controlled remotely while being propelled forward by the flagellar beat. This makes them an interesting tool for reproductive medicine that can enable minimally invasive sperm cell delivery to the oocyte in vivo, as a treatment for infertility. The generation of sperm-based micromotors in sufficiently large numbers, as they are required in biomedical applications has been challenging, either due to the employed fabrication techniques or the stability of the microstructure-sperm coupling. Here, biohybrid micromotors, which can be assembled in a fast and simple process using magnetic microparticles, are presented. These magnetotactic sperm cells show a high motility and swimming speed and can be transferred between different environments without large detrimental effects on sperm motility and membrane integrity. Furthermore, clusters of micromotors are assembled magnetically and visualized using dual ultrasound (US)/photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Finally, a protocol for the scaled-up assembly of micromotors and their purification for use in in vitro fertilization (IVF) is presented, bringing them closer to their biomedical implementation.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer2310288
Seiten (von - bis)e2310288
FachzeitschriftSmall
Jahrgang20
Ausgabenummer23
Frühes Online-Datum27 Dez. 2023
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 5 Juni 2024
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85180655737

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • assisted reproduction, magnetic microparticles, medical microrobots, micromotors, microrobots, polystyrene microparticles, sperm cells