微流控芯片技术在精子优选中的研究进展

Research progress of microfluidic chip technology in sperm optimization

精子优选是体外受精(in vitro fertilization,IVF)的关键步骤,对于提高辅助生殖技术(assisted reproductive technology,ART)的成功率至关重要。研究证实,精液常规处理方法中的离心等步骤可能会产生较高的活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS),损伤精子DNA。而自然受精过程中,精子进入女性生殖道,需要克服一系列解剖屏障,并在黏液形成的“微通道”中迁移。以小型化和自动化为特征的微流控芯片技术利用精子在女性体内的选择机制,模拟精子自然选择过程,直接从原始精液中优选获得高质量的精子,可提高IVF效率和改善妊娠结局,具有很大的临床价值。本文对微流控芯片技术在精子优选中的研究进展进行综述,并展望其应用前景。

Sperm optimization is the key to in vitro fertilization(IVF)and is extremely important to improve the success rate of assisted reproductive technology(ART).Studies have confirmed that steps such as centrifugation in routine semen processing methods may lead to higher levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and damage sperm DNA.In the natural state,sperm needs to overcome a series of anatomical barriers in the female reproductive tract and migrates through“microchannels”formed by mucus.The microfluidic chip,characterized by miniaturization and automation,can simulate the process of natural selection in the female reproductive tract,and optimally obtain high-quality sperm from the original semen,which is important for improving IVF efficiency and improving pregnancy outcome.This review focuses on the recent advances in sperm optimization implemented in microfluidic chips and provides an outlook of its clinical application.