Abstract
We present a new method for the selection of individual sperm cells using a microfluidic device that automatically traps each cell in a separate microdroplet that then individually self-assembles with other microdroplets, permitting the controlled measurement of the cells using quantitative phase microscopy. Following cell trapping and droplet formation, we utilize quantitative phase microscopy integrated with bright-field imaging for individual sperm morphology and motility inspection. We then perform individual sperm selection using a single-cell micromanipulator, which is enhanced by the microdroplet-trapping procedure described above. This method can improve sperm selection for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a common type of in vitro fertilization procedure.
Highlights
Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy for at least 12 months [1]
We present a new method that provides high-magnification quantitative phase imaging of sperm cells that have been trapped in microdroplets so that the cells cannot escape after their analysis, followed by the extraction of the selected cells from the microdroplets using a cell micromanipulator
We have introduced a new method for quantitatively analyzing and selecting sperm cells for fertilization, which is both rapid and simple
Summary
Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy for at least 12 months [1]. In order to avoid losing a sperm cell due to its dynamic nature and before catching it for injection, the sperm characterization is completed by imaging it in a large field of view under low magnification (typically 10× or 20×), which requires low-resolution imaging and further diminishes the ability of the clinician to well characterize the sperm morphological details Overall, this process suffers from significant human errors, and the selection of the most potent sperm cells is still a challenge in the current practical procedures [3,8]. We utilized a special microfluidic device that could trap cells individually in watery microdroplets separated with biocompatible oil, where each microdroplet creates a microenvironment for individual cell analysis [24,25,26] This is the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that such microdroplets have been used for motile sperm-cell trapping, imaged for analysis, and followed by sperm extraction with a micromanipulator. This new technique has potential for clinical application, providing both quantitative imaging capabilities during ICSI and avoiding a situation where the clinician has to chase after potent sperm cells following their analysis
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