Institute for Integrative Nanosciences, IFW Dresden , Helmholtzstraße 20, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
Material Systems for Nanoelectronics, Chemnitz University of Technology , Reichenhainer Straße 70, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany.
Nano Lett. 2016 Jan 13;16(1):555-61. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04221. Epub 2015 Dec 23.
We present artificially motorized sperm cells-a novel type of hybrid micromotor, where customized microhelices serve as motors for transporting sperm cells with motion deficiencies to help them carry out their natural function. Our results indicate that metal-coated polymer microhelices are suitable for this task due to potent, controllable, and nonharmful 3D motion behavior. We manage to capture, transport, and release single immotile live sperm cells in fluidic channels that allow mimicking physiological conditions. Important steps toward fertilization are addressed by employing proper means of sperm selection and oocyte culturing. Despite the fact that there still remain some challenges on the way to achieve successful fertilization with artificially motorized sperms, we believe that the potential of this novel approach toward assisted reproduction can be already put into perspective with the present work.
我们提出了一种新型的混合微马达——人工驱动的精子细胞，其中定制的微螺旋作为马达，用于输送运动能力有缺陷的精子细胞，帮助它们完成自然功能。我们的研究结果表明，由于具有强大、可控且无害的 3D 运动行为，金属涂层聚合物微螺旋非常适合这项任务。我们成功地在模拟生理条件的流体通道中捕获、运输和释放单个不动的活精子细胞。通过适当的精子选择和卵母细胞培养手段，实现了受精过程中的重要步骤。尽管在实现人工驱动精子成功受精的道路上仍然存在一些挑战，但我们相信，这项新型辅助生殖方法的潜力已经可以从目前的工作中得到展望。
