Development of a laser-activated mesoporous silica nanocarrier delivery system for applications in molecular and genetic research.

Nanoparticles have revolutionized medical research over the last decade. One notable emerging area of nanomedicine is research developments in the reproductive sciences. Since increasing evidence indicates links between abnormal gene expression and previously unexplained states of infertility, there is a strong impetus to develop tools, such as nanoparticle platforms, to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying such states.

Nanomedicine and mammalian sperm: Lessons from the porcine model.

Biomedical nanotechnology allows us to engineer versatile nanosized platforms that are comparable in size to biological molecules and intracellular organelles. These platforms can be loaded with large amounts of biological cargo, administered systemically and act at a distance, target specific cell populations, undergo intracellular internalization via endogenous uptake mechanisms, and act as contrast agents or release cargo for therapeutic purposes. Over recent years, nanomaterials have been increasingly viewed as favorable candidates for intragamete delivery.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery of molecular compounds into gametes and embryos: learning from nature.

Background: Currently, even the most sophisticated methods of assisted reproductive technology (ART) allow us to achieve live births in only approximately 30% of patients, indicating that our understanding of the fine mechanisms underlying reproduction is far from ideal. One of the main challenges associated with studies of gamete structure and function is that these cells are remarkably resistant towards the uptake of exogenous substances, including 'molecular research tools' such as drugs, biomolecules and intracellular markers. This phenomenon can affect not only the performance of reproductive biology research techniques, but also the outcomes of the in vitro handling of gametes, which forms the cornerstone of ART.

Functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a cell-penetrating peptide to target mammalian sperm in vitro.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of actively targeting mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) toward mammalian sperm with a cell-penetrating peptide (C105Y), with subsequent analysis of binding rates and nano-safety profiles.

Materials & Methods: Boar sperm were exposed in vitro to C105Y-functionalized MSNPs or free C105Y, in a series of increasing doses for up to 2 h, followed by the evaluation of sperm motility, kinematic parameters, acrosome morphology, MSNP-sperm binding and cell fluorescence levels.

Results: C105Y-functionalized MSNPs preserved their biocompatibility with sperm, and exhibited an approximately fourfold increase in affinity toward gametes, compared with unmodified MSNPs, during the early stages of incubation.

Nanotechnology in reproductive medicine: emerging applications of nanomaterials.

Unlabelled: In the last decade, nanotechnology has been extensively introduced for biomedical applications, including bio-detection, drug delivery and diagnostic imaging, particularly in the field of cancer diagnostics and treatment. However, there is a growing trend towards the expansion of nanobiotechnological tools in a number of non-cancer applications. In this review, we discuss the emerging uses of nanotechnology in reproductive medicine and reproductive biology.

Effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles upon the function of mammalian sperm in vitro.

Unlabelled: Nanomaterial-mediated delivery represents a promising technique for reproductive biology with a potential to improve the safety and efficacy of existing methodologies, including experimental gene therapy and sperm-mediated gene transfer. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have been characterised as a powerful and safe delivery tool, rendering them an excellent candidate for use in reproductive research. However, their effects upon mammalian gametes with highly specialised structure and functionality remain untested.