Abstract
Traditional methods for sperm selection such as swim-up and isopycnic (density gradient) centrifugation involve prolonged periods of incubation and/or serial centrifugations. Prolonged incubation of sperm with other cellular components of semen and serial centrifugation expose motile sperm to reactive oxygen species. The exposure affects the sperm chromatin with deleterious effects on embryo developmental potential and pregnancy rates. The use of microfluidics in human assisted reproduction for sperm selection has recently been proposed. Sperm selection with microfluidic technologies is an alternative which circumvents the long periods of incubation associated with standard sperm selection techniques. Fabrication of microfluidic devices with soft lithography to mold polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) allows easy production of self-powered microfluidic devices. Microfluidic devices for selection of motile sperm are easy to operate and effective in selecting high quality sperm; however, clinical trials to determine their impacts on clinical outcomes are still required. Microfluidic devices can be combined with other modes of sperm selection such as chemotaxis. Microfluidic technologies applied to assisted reproduction is an emerging field and preliminary results are promising. This chapter describes sperm selection with microfluidic devices and how they can be integrated with chemotaxis.
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