Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Biosens Bioelectron. 2024 Aug 15;258:116353. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116353. Epub 2024 Apr 30.
Male infertility is a pervasive global reproductive challenge, primarily attributed to a decline in semen quality. Addressing this concern, there has been a growing focus on spermatozoa sorting in assisted reproductive technology. This study introduces a groundbreaking development in the form of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic (TRMC) device designed for efficient motile spermatozoa sorting within a short 15-min timeframe. The TRMC device mimics the natural sperm sorting mechanism of the oviduct, selecting spermatozoa with superior motility and DNA integrity. The experimental outcomes demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in the percentage of progressive spermatozoa following sorting, soaring from 3.90% to an impressive 96.11% when subjected to a temperature decrease from 38 °C to 35 °C. Notably, sperm motility exhibited a substantial 69% improvement. The TRMC device exhibited a commendable recovery rate of 60.93%, surpassing current clinical requirements. Furthermore, the sorted spermatozoa displayed a notable reduction in the DNA fragmentation index to 6.94%, signifying a substantial 90% enhancement in DNA integrity. This remarkable advancement positions the TRMC device as highly suitable for applications in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), offering a promising solution to male infertility challenges.
男性不育是一个普遍存在的全球性生殖挑战，主要归因于精液质量的下降。为了解决这一问题，辅助生殖技术中对精子分选的关注度日益增加。本研究提出了一种开创性的发展，即一种温度趋性和流切力微流控（TRMC）装置，可在 15 分钟的短时间内实现高效的运动精子分选。TRMC 装置模拟了输卵管中自然的精子分选机制，选择具有优越运动能力和 DNA 完整性的精子。实验结果表明，经过分选后，前向运动精子的百分比显著提高，从 3.90%飙升至 35°C 下温度降低至 38°C 时的 96.11%。值得注意的是，精子运动能力提高了 69%。TRMC 装置的回收率达到了令人瞩目的 60.93%，超过了当前的临床要求。此外，分选后的精子的 DNA 碎片指数显著降低至 6.94%，表明 DNA 完整性提高了 90%。这一显著进展使 TRMC 装置非常适合应用于体外受精（IVF）和胞质内精子注射（ICSI），为男性不育挑战提供了有前途的解决方案。
