Microsensors for Gamete quality assessment and sorting

Datum

09.03.2023

Zeit

10:00 - 11:00

Sprecher

Pallavi Jha

Zugehörigkeit

IFW Dresden

Sprache

en

Hauptthema

Materialien

Host

Ines Firlle

Beschreibung

Infertility is a global problem that affects millions of couples worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility affects approximately 15% of couples in reproductive age [1]. Despite advancements in assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), the success rate is limited to 5-30% per IVF cycle for women in different age groups [2]. The success rate of IVF increases with the number of cycles but repeated failures can take a toll on couples financially and emotionally. A significant hurdle in this process is the selection of good-quality embryos which can lead to successful pregnancies. Traditional embryo quality assessment is done by morphological analysis using optical microscopy. This method provides information about the physical characteristics of the embryo such as the number of cells, symmetry, fragmentation, and the presence of pronuclei. However, this technique can be subjective and the physical parameters may not always be sufficient to accurately predict embryo quality. In recent years, the role of AI techniques has been investigated to rank embryos for implantation or predicting the probability of pregnancies. Some of these studies have shown promising results but a general consensus on how to interpret or compare these AI evaluations is currently missing [3]. Therefore, research into additional quantitative parameters such as genetic and metabolic profiling, mechanical properties of embryos and the presence of specific biomarkers secreted by embryos is necessary to provide additional information on the developmental potential of the embryo. Impedimetric detection enables non-invasive, label-free and rapid analysis. The use of 3D tubular electrodes is motivated based on studies that have shown them to have higher sensitivity in comparison to planar electrodes [4]. The tubular cross-section of the 3D tubular electrodes also creates a better microenvironment by mimicking physiological topographical constraints [5]. The optical transparency of these electrodes makes them suitable for dual optical and impedance tomography, for morphological and functional characterization of the embryos. The ability to select high-quality embryos is critical for improving pregnancy rates and reducing the incidence of multiple pregnancies. Additionally, this method could offer an alternative to preimplantation genetic testing which is used in some IVF labs to identify genetic disorders, before embryo transfer [6]. Overall, the goal of this work is to contribute in improving the implantation rates of embryos produced in vitro leading to high pregnancy outcomes for couples struggling with infertility. [1] World Health Organization. (n.d.). Infertility. World Health Organization. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/infertility [2] NHS. (2021, October 18). IVF Overview. NHS. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ivf [3] Kragh, M. F., & Karstoft, H. (2021). Embryo selection with Artificial Intelligence: How to evaluate and compare methods? Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 38(7), 1675–1689. [4] Medina-Sánchez, M., Ibarlucea, B., Pérez, N., Karnaushenko, D. D., Weiz, S. M., Baraban, L., Cuniberti, G., & Schmidt, O. G. (2016). High-performance three-dimensional tubular nanomembrane sensor for DNA detection. Nano Letters, 16(7), 4288–4296. [5] Weiz, S. M., Medina-Sánchez, M., & Schmidt, O. G. (2017). Microsystems for single-cell analysis. Advanced Biosystems, 2(2), 1700193. [6] De Rycke, M., & Verdyck, P. (2020). Preimplantation Genetic Testing for monogenic disorders. Preimplantation Genetic Testing, 77–86.

Links

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Letztmalig verändert: 09.03.2023, 07:39:17