Game-Changing Approaches in Sperm Sex-Sorting: Microfluidics and Nanotechnology

Abstract

The utilization of sex-sorted sperm for artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization is considered a valuable tool for improving production efficiency and optimizing reproductive management in farm animals, subsequently ensuring sufficient food resource for the growing human population. Despite the fact that sperm sex-sorting is one of the most intense studied technologies and notable progress have been made in the past three decades to optimize it, the conception rates when using sex-sorted semen are still under expectations. Assisted reproduction programs may benefit from the use of emergent nano and microfluidic-based technologies. This article addresses the currently used methods for sperm sex-sorting, as well as the emerging ones, based on nanotechnology and microfluidics emphasizing on their practical and economic applicability.

Sperm Selection and Embryo Development: A Comparison of the Density Gradient Centrifugation and Microfluidic Chip Sperm Preparation Methods in Patients with Astheno-Teratozoospermia

“…Microfluidic systems were also investigated for the isolation of spermatozoa from testicular specimens of non-obstructive azoospermic men [ 49 ]. Microfluidics and nanotechnology are further explored for sperm sex-sorting before IVF to prevent sex-linked genetic diseases [ 50 ]. Besides all the aforementioned improvements, the microfluidic chip method also has the benefit of being a simple and time-saving sperm selection tool with reduced sample volumes.…”

El análisis seminal en la agricultura de precisión en el siglo XXI

“…y selección de aquellas subpoblaciones o conjuntos de subpoblaciones que puedan resultar más interesantes para el propósito que se haya definido. Ello implica la combinación de nuevas tecnologías como la genómica (Selvaraju et al, 2018), la microfluídica (Vasilescu et al, 2021) y la nanotecnología (Neculai-Valeanu & Ariton, 2021).…”

Nanotechnology in reproduction, breeding and conservation of fish biodiversity: Current status and future potential

“…In higher domestic animals, sperm-sorting is an important strategy to improve genetic progress which allows the selection of healthy sperm as well as the determination of specific traits so forms an important tool for assisted reproduction. 58 In the process of sperm sex-sorting, sperm cells are separated and preselected based on the X-and Y-bearing chromosomes 58,59 This process has the main application in the preservation of the endangered germplasm in higher animals as well as selecting the sex-linked characters for efficient breeding 60 and could be employed in the aquaculture sector too. The common method of sperm sorting involves a cytometer that differentiates the sex chromosomes on the basis of DNA content with the X chromosome having 4% more than the counterpart Y.…”

“…In higher domestic animals, sperm‐sorting is an important strategy to improve genetic progress which allows the selection of healthy sperm as well as the determination of specific traits so forms an important tool for assisted reproduction 58 …”