MICROFLUIDICS IN ASSISTED REPRODUCTION: ADVANCEMENTS IN SPERM SORTING FOR ENHANCED IVF OUTCOMES

Abstract

Abstract

Various advancements in assisted reproductive technology have enabled a safe and effective practice of In vitro fertilization. The success of IVF is subjected to the quality of both male and female gametes. While the quality of oocytes is highly dependent on age; sperm selection becomes a critical factor for a healthy embryo development for IVF. The conventional methods for preparation of sperms for IVF may provide sperms with sub-optimal quality due to DNA fragmentation. Microfluidics based sperm sorting devices provides an effective way to sort out sperms with high quality to be used in IVF. The device is based on the differential fluid mechanics of motile and non-motile sperms due to a contrast in their densities. Several comparative studies have indicated the advantages of microfluidics-based devices over conventional techniques in preserving the DNA integrity of sperms. It is also advantageous with respect to providing a streamlined clinical procedure, reducing the turn-over time for the preparation of sperm samples. This review provides an insight on the basic factors affecting the outcomes of IVF and application of microfluidic device in sperm selection.