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Advances in microfluidic technology for sperm screening and in vitro fertilization

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Abstract

About 18% of reproductive-age adults worldwide are affected by infertility. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are widely used assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) aimed at improving clinical outcomes. Efficient and noninvasive selection and isolation of highly motile sperm with intact DNA are essential for the success of IVF and ICSI and can potentially impact the therapeutic efficacy and the health of the offspring. Compared to traditional methods, microfluidic technology offers significant advantages such as low sample consumption, high efficiency, minimal damage, high integration, similar microenvironment, and high automation, providing a new platform for ARTs. Here, we review the current situation of microfluidic technology in the field of sperm motility screening and evaluation and IVF research. First, we focus on the working principle, structural design, and screening results of sperm selection microfluidic platforms. We then highlight how the multiple steps of the IVF process can be facilitated and integrated into a microfluidic chip, including oocyte capture, sperm collection and isolation, sperm sorting, fertilization, and embryo culture. Ultimately, we summarize how microfluidics can complement and optimize current sperm sorting and IVF protocols, and challenges and possible solutions are discussed.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201179), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020A1515110126 and 2021A1515010130) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (N2319005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China

    Jingtong Ma, Qianlin Xie, Yusongjia Zhang, Qirui Xiao & Ye Tian

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110003, China

    Xiaoyu Liu

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110022, China

    Chong Qiao

  4. Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, 110022, China

    Chong Qiao

  5. Foshan Graduate School of Innovation, Northeastern University, Foshan, 528300, China

    Ye Tian

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Ma, J., Xie, Q., Zhang, Y. et al. Advances in microfluidic technology for sperm screening and in vitro fertilization. Anal Bioanal Chem (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-023-05120-9

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