In assisted reproductive technology (ART), sperm preparation aims to select the most viable sperm for ICSI. Unlike conventional methods like density gradients or sperm washing, microfluidic techniques mimic natural selection in the female reproductive tract by using laminar flow without centrifugation, reducing the risk of DNA damage. This method isolates highly motile sperm while filtering out debris and immotile cells. Studies show that microfluidics improve embryo quality, increase pregnancy rates, and may lead to higher euploidy rates. Additional benefits include improved safety, scalability, and shorter preparation times.
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Comparison of sperm preparation time between microfluidic and gradient methods.
Timeframe: Immediately post-processing
Comparison of euploidy rates in embryos derived from microfluidic versus gradient-prepared sperm.
Timeframe: Up to embryo biopsy (Day 5 or 6 post-fertilization)
Jonalyn Edades, Research Coordinator