A biomimetic sperm selection device for routine sperm selection.

Research Question: Can a biomimetic microfluidic sperm sorter isolate motile sperm while minimizing DNA damage in comparison with density gradient centrifugation (DGC)?

Design: This was a two-phase study of 61 men, consisting of a proof-of-concept study with 21 donated semen samples in a university research laboratory, followed by a diagnostic andrology study with 40 consenting patients who presented at a fertility clinic for semen diagnostics. Each sample was split to perform DGC and microfluidic sperm selection (one-step sperm selection with 15 min of incubation) side-by-side. Outcomes evaluated included concentration, progressive motility, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of raw semen, and sperm isolated using DGC and the microfluidic device.

Temperature fluctuations during embryo transfer can be mitigated by optimizing transfer protocol.

Research Question: What impact do variations in embryo transfer catheter loading and movement procedures have on temperature and pH fluctuations during embryo transfer?

Design: Mock embryo transfers were conducted to test the impact of air flow/movement, use of catheter coverings, and the type of workstation used for catheter loading on catheter temperature. A thermocouple probe inserted into the tip of the outer catheter or taped to the exterior of the inner catheter recorded temperature within the catheter every 5 s from time of mock embryo loading (T) to 60 s (T + 60 s) or from the start of transit (T). Fluctuations in culture medium pH in embryo transfer dishes were monitored.

A microenvironment of high lactate and low pH created by the blastocyst promotes endometrial receptivity and implantation.

Research Question: Is the blastocyst's idiosyncratic metabolic production of lactate, and creation of a specialized microenvironment at the implatation site, an important mediator of maternal-fetal signalling to promote endometrial receptivity and implantation?

Design: Hormonally primed ECC-1 and Ishikawa cells were used to assess functional changes to the endometrial epithelium after exposure to lactic acid (LA), LA with neutralized pH (nLA) or acidic pH (pH). Tight junction integrity (transepithelial resistance [TER]), cellular proliferation or changes to gene expression by RT-PCR were analysed. The effect of LA on Endometrial stromal cells decidualization and migratory capacity, and HUVEC endothelial tube formation and angiogenesis, were also assessed.

A pilot study investigating a novel particle-based growth factor delivery system for preimplantation embryo culture.

Study Question: Can vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-loaded silica supraparticles (V-SPs) be used as a novel mode of delivering VEGF to the developing preimplantation embryo in vitro?

Summary Answer: Supplementation of embryo culture media with V-SPs promoted embryonic development in a manner equivalent to media supplemented with free VEGF.

What Is Known Already: VEGF is a maternally derived growth factor that promotes preimplantation embryonic development in vitro. However, its use in clinical media has limitations due to its low stability in solution.

A combination of growth factors and cytokines alter preimplantation mouse embryo development, foetal development and gene expression profiles.

Within the maternal tract, the preimplantation embryo is exposed to an array of growth factors (GFs) and cytokines, most of which are absent from culture media used in clinical IVF. Whilst the addition of individual GFs and cytokines to embryo culture media can improve preimplantation mouse embryo development, there is a lack of evidence on the combined synergistic effects of GFs and cytokines on embryo development and further foetal growth. Therefore, in this study, the effect of a combined group of GFs and cytokines on mouse preimplantation embryo development and subsequent foetal development and gene expression profiles was investigated.