Seminar
27/02/2020
Sperm-based microbots and their potential to improve ART success and reproductive health

Dr. Mariana Medina

(IFW Dresden, Germany)

Medical hybrid microbiorobots driven by powerful microorganisms (e.g. bacteria) or motile cells (e.g. sperm cells) represent a promising approach to perform non-invasive medical tasks in living organisms, such as local diagnosis and therapy. They combine the advantages of biological components (e.g. self-guidance mechanisms, ability to move in physiological environments and the possibility to load them with different cargoes), with the functionality of engineered microparts (e.g. imaging, cargo-delivery, micromanipulation) [1]. To this end, our group has developed medical microbots to assist sperm with motion deficiencies to reach the oocyte towards the treatment of two of the most common male infertility problems: oligospermia - low sperm count, and asthenospermia - low sperm motility, envisioning them for future in vivo assisted fertilization [2]. We have proven the potential to guide motile sperm with a magnetic microtube by aligning it along an external magnetic field [3]. Sperm release was also possible using a rolled-up thermoresponsive polymeric microtube, operating at physiological conditions [4]. Moreover, we reported the use of helical micro-carriers, driven by an external magnetic field to transport and release functional but immotile sperm cells [5].