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Purpose Our previous studies showed that nanotechnology improves derived adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED). In this study, the Neuregulin-1(NRG1) gene was transfected into ADSCs with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) further to improve the therapeutic effect of ADSCs on ED. Materials and Methods ADSCs were isolated from epididymal adipose tissue of Sprague–Dawley rats. The optimal concentration of PEI-SPION (SPION modified with polyethyleneimine) was selected to construct the gene complex. After electrostatic binding of PEI-SPION and DNA, a PEI layer was wrapped to make the PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI gene transfection complex. Different groups were set up for transfection tests. Lipo2000 transfection reagent was used as the control. PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI in the experimental group was transfected under an external magnetic field. Results When the concentration of PEI-SPION was 10 µg/mL, it had little cytotoxicity, and cell activity was not significantly affected. PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI forms positively charged nanocomposites with a particle size of 72.6±14.9 nm when N/P ≥8. The PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI gene complex can significantly improve the transfection efficiency of ADSCs, reaching 26.74%±4.62%, under the action of the external magnetic field. PCR and Western blot showed that the expression level of the NRG1 gene increased significantly, which proved that the transfection was effective. Conclusions PEI-SPION can be used as a vector for NRG1 gene transfection into ADSCs. PEI-SPION-NRG1-PEI packaging has the highest transfection efficiency under the external magnetic field than the other groups. These findings may provide a new strategy for ADSCs therapy for ED.

Background Sperm cryopreservation is an effective method of fertility preservation for disease-related and social sperm freezing. In total, 662 subjects (range: 15–65 years-of-age; mean: 33.49 ± 8.79 years-of-age) were included in this study to investigate the population characteristics, semen quality, and usage of autologous sperm preservation patients in Beijing. Of these, 351 were cancer patients (53.02%, 31.14 ± 7.32 years-of-age) and 311 were non-cancer patients (46.98%, 36.14 ± 9.54 years-of-age). Results We found that the number of preservation cases increased steadily from 2015 to 2019; 89.73% of these had a bachelor's degree or above; 54.83%, 41.54%, and 3.63% were single, married, and divorced, respectively. The cases of cancers and oligozoospermia accounted for 71.30% of all patients; therefore, most patients required fertility preservation due to disease. The cancer group had a significantly lower sperm concentration, rate of progressive sperm after the frozen-thawed test, total progressive motility sperm count after the frozen-thawed test, and recovery rate of progressive motile sperm (RRPM) than the non-cancer group (all P < 0.05). Sperm count-related parameters were significantly affected by testicular cancer, while sperm motility-related parameters and RRPM were significantly affected by leukemia. The utilization rate of preserved sperm was 6.34% after 6 to 78 months of follow-up. In terms of fresh or frozen embryo transfer, the clinical pregnancy rate was 56.76% or 50.00%, and the live birth rate was 24.32% or 21.43%, respectively. Conclusion The need for autologous sperm preservation was dominated by patients with diseases, followed by the need for social sperm freezing. Tumors had a major negative impact on semen quality, and the usage rates of stored semen were at lower level compared to the number of sperm cryopreservation. Medical staff and patients should pay attention to both cognition-action consistency and cost-effectiveness in fertility preservation.