This is a relatively new procedure that may enhance the success of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and assist couples in overcoming male factor infertility.
The technology of microfluidic sperm sorting is used to distinguish between sperm that are normal and mobile and those that are not. The method makes use of microfluidic devices, which are tiny chambers or tubes with precise features that can manipulate fluids and particles at the microscale.
When sperm are subjected to a series of physical and chemical forces during microfluidic sperm sorting, the sperm are selectively separated from aberrant or non-motile sperm. A sample of semen is put into the microfluidic device. This is done by taking advantage of the differences in size, shape, and motility between normal and aberrant sperm, as well as the way the sperm interact with the surfaces and fluids around them inside the device.
To improve the likelihood of successful fertilization and embryo development, the healthy sperm can be selected and collected before being utilized for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Compared to conventional sperm sorting methods like density gradient centrifugation or swim-up, which depend on the physical characteristics of sperm to separate them, microfluidic sperm sorting provides a number of advantages. Microfluidic sperm sorting can separate sperm based on a larger range of factors, including as morphology, DNA integrity, and acrosome status. It is more accurate, efficient, and gentle.