Rheotaxis-based sperm separation using a biomimicry microfluidic device

Iman Ramazani Sarbandi; Ali Lesani; Mahdi Moghimi Zand; Reza Nosrati

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-97602-y

Rheotaxis-based sperm separation using a biomimicry microfluidic device

Iman Ramazani Sarbandi, Ali Lesani, Mahdi Moghimi Zand, Reza Nosrati

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sperm selection is crucial to assisted reproduction, influencing the success rate of the treatment cycle and offspring health. However, in the current clinical sperm selection practices, bypassing almost all the natural selection barriers is a major concern. Here, we present a biomimicry microfluidic method, inspired by the anatomy of the female reproductive tract, that separates motile sperm based on their rheotaxis behavior to swim against the flow into low shear rate regions. The device includes micropocket geometries that recall the oval-shaped microstructures of the female fallopian tube to create shear protected zones for sperm separation. Clinical tests with human samples indicate that the device is capable of isolating viable and highly motile sperm based on their rheotaxis responses, resulting in a separation efficiency of 100%. The device presents an automated alternative for the current sperm selection practices in assisted reproduction.

Original language	English
Article number	18327
Number of pages	8
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	11
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97602-y
Publication status	Published - 15 Sept 2021

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10.1038/s41598-021-97602-y

351398460-oaFinal published version, 2.26 MB

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abstract = "Sperm selection is crucial to assisted reproduction, influencing the success rate of the treatment cycle and offspring health. However, in the current clinical sperm selection practices, bypassing almost all the natural selection barriers is a major concern. Here, we present a biomimicry microfluidic method, inspired by the anatomy of the female reproductive tract, that separates motile sperm based on their rheotaxis behavior to swim against the flow into low shear rate regions. The device includes micropocket geometries that recall the oval-shaped microstructures of the female fallopian tube to create shear protected zones for sperm separation. Clinical tests with human samples indicate that the device is capable of isolating viable and highly motile sperm based on their rheotaxis responses, resulting in a separation efficiency of 100%. The device presents an automated alternative for the current sperm selection practices in assisted reproduction.",

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AU - Nosrati, Reza

N1 - Funding Information: The first author appreciates partial funding by the University of Tehran Science and Technology Park (UTSTP-Rouyesh Research Project Grant). The last author gratefully acknowledges support from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects to Dr. Reza Nosrati (DP190100343 and DP210103361). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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Rheotaxis-based sperm separation using a biomimicry microfluidic device

Abstract

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Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies

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