A microfluidic approach for synchronous and nondestructive study of the permeability of multiple oocytes

Abstract

Investigation of oocyte membrane permeability plays a crucial role in fertility preservation, reproductive medicine, and reproductive pharmacology. However, the commonly used methods have disadvantages such as high time consumption, low efficiency, and cumbersome data processing. In addition, the developmental potential of oocytes after measurement has not been fully validated in previous studies. Moreover, oocytes can only maintain their best status in vitro within a very limited time. To address these limitations, we developed a novel multichannel microfluidic chip with newly designed micropillars that provide feasible and repeatable oocyte capture. The osmotic responses of three oocytes at different or the same cryoprotectant (CPA) concentrations were measured simultaneously, which greatly improved the measurement efficiency. Importantly, the CPA concentration dependence of mouse oocyte membrane permeability was found. Moreover, a neural network algorithm was employed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of data processing. Furthermore, analysis of fertilization and embryo transfer after perfusion indicated that the microfluidic approach does not damage the developmental potential of oocytes. In brief, we report a new method based on a multichannel microfluidic chip that enables synchronous and nondestructive measurement of the permeability of multiple oocytes.

Micro/Nanofluidic‐Enabled Biomedical Devices: Integration of Structural Design and Manufacturing

“…[ 18 ] Figure 1C shows cryoprotectant (CPA) solutions with different concentrations being injected from inlet 1 (blue) and 2 (red) and mixed together in the green region. [ 19 ] Mixed liquid meets oocytes injected from cell inlet C I3 and finally flows to outlet O 3 to allow oocyte retrieval. These representatives of microfluidic devices are designed with the 1D flow mechanism, where both the input and output channels are integrated on the same plane.…”

“…Reproduced with permission. [ 19 ] Copyright 2020, Springer Nature. D) Multilayer microfluidic device design that allows air exchange with mechanical expansion and contraction.…”

Acoustic Droplet Vitrification Method for High-Efficiency Preservation of Rare Cells

“…If the cryopreservation efficiency was low, the recovered rare cells, such as egg cells and stem cells, could not be used for the subsequent experiment or treatment. Second, for such a small number of cells, it is more difficult to handle the cells in the early stage, including how to manipulate a single cell or dozens of cells. , Additionally, cryopreservation of rare cells usually require the use of high concentrations of CPA (>8 M), which may cause osmotic shock and chemical toxicity to the cell, resulting in cytoskeleton deformation, spindle rupture, and chromosome diffusion. − …”

“…Second, for such a small number of cells, it is more difficult to handle the cells in the early stage, including how to manipulate a single cell or dozens of cells. 12,13 Additionally, cryopreservation of rare cells usually require the use of high concentrations of CPA (>8 M), which may cause osmotic shock and chemical toxicity to the cell, resulting in cytoskeleton deformation, spindle rupture, and chromosome diffusion. 14−16 One notable technique to reduce the damage of cells during cryopreservation is to decrease the sample volume for effectively increasing the cooling and warming rate and to minimize the CPA concentration.…”

Numerical Modeling of Temperature-Dependent Cell Membrane Permeability to Water Based on a Microfluidic System with Dynamic Temperature Control

“…This device could realize osmotic volume change observation of multiple isolated cells with an array of butterfly-shaped traps. Zhao 24 developed a microfluidic device with four groups of semicircular distributed micropillars for cell immobilization. This device could study the permeability of four oocytes in gradient concentration distribution synchronously and nondestructively.…”