Magnetotactic Sperm Cells for Assisted Reproduction

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Friedrich Striggow - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Carla Ribeiro - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Azaam Aziz - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Richard Nauber - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Franziska Hebenstreit - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Oliver G Schmidt - , Chemnitz University of Technology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Mariana Medina-Sánchez - , Micro- and Nano-Biosystems (Research Group), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

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

Original languageEnglish
Article number2310288
Pages (from-to)e2310288
JournalSmall
Volume20
Issue number23
Early online date27 Dec 2023
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jun 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85180655737

Keywords

Keywords

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