Make it spin: individual trapping of sperm for analysis and recovery using micro-contact printing

Lab Chip. 2014 Aug 7;14(15):2635-41. doi: 10.1039/c4lc00050a. Epub 2014 Mar 11.

Abstract

In this article, we describe the development of a high throughput platform to spatially manipulate viable sperm for motility measurements and recovery of the best single sperm for fertilization purposes. Micro-contact printing was used to pattern islands of adhesive proteins (fibronectin) separated by sperm repellent species (Pluronic acid F-127) on commercially available polystyrene substrates. Following washing, arrays of viable single sperm were captured onto the islands demonstrating for the first time that sperm can be trapped by micro-contact printing with patterning efficiency of 90% while retaining 100% viability. These were then subjected to motility analysis whilst remaining spatially confined to the islands. Single sperm motility was assessed (n = 37) by software analysis measuring the number of rotations per second (degrees s⁻¹). The assignment of array coordinates allows the more active single sperm to be easily identified and recovered by a simple micromanipulator pipette aspiration step with automated possibility for assisted reproductive technologies or further quality correlation analysis. Taken together, we show for the first time a technique to simultaneously screen thousands of viable single sperm for motility assessment while retaining the ability for single species recovery for enhanced fertilization purposes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Separation / instrumentation
  • Cell Separation / veterinary*
  • Cell Survival
  • Equipment Design / veterinary
  • Fertilization in Vitro / veterinary
  • Fibronectins / chemistry*
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Immobilized Proteins / chemistry*
  • Immobilized Proteins / metabolism
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Materials Testing / veterinary
  • Netherlands
  • Poloxamer / chemistry
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional
  • Semen Analysis / instrumentation
  • Semen Analysis / veterinary*
  • Single-Cell Analysis / instrumentation
  • Single-Cell Analysis / veterinary*
  • Software
  • Sperm Motility
  • Spermatozoa / cytology*
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism
  • Surface Properties
  • Sus scrofa

Substances

  • Fibronectins
  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Polystyrenes
  • Poloxamer