Descripción del proyecto
Microrrobots para ayudar en las técnicas de reproducción
La infertilidad plantea un desafío médico significativo y la fertilización «in vitro» representa una buena alternativa de reproducción asistida. Sin embargo, las tasas de transferencia de embriones son bajas, puesto que solamente una tercera parte de las mujeres llegan a un embarazo clínico. Micro-GIFT es un proyecto financiado con fondos europeos que investigará un método para transportar y liberar zigotos de alta calidad en las trompas de Falopio. A nivel experimental, este método garantizará un entorno más fisiológico para el embrión y sincronizado con la preparación endometrial. Los investigadores desarrollarán microrrobots para la transferencia no invasiva de los zigotos, así como herramientas de imagenología «in vivo» para guiar a estos microrrobots en organismos vivos.
Objetivo
Infertility is a worldwide problem affecting ~11% of the reproductive-age population. Severe cases are currently treated by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic injection techniques (ICSI) with high fertilization rates (~95%). However, embryo transfer is still the critical stage with only 32% of the cases resulting in clinical pregnancies. Moreover, the implantation rates per embryo remain very low (~17%) and often the procedure needs to be repeated several times with no success implying a high economic and social cost. Among the different methods used to overcome this issue, gamete or zygote ntrafallopian transfer (GIFT or ZIFT) seems more promising offering appropriate physiological environment for zygote/embryo development at an optimal synchronization between embryonic and endometrial preparation. However, these methods are invasive and involve surgical procedures and anaesthesia to introduce macroscopic imaging and manipulation tools into the female body, increasing the risk of injury and ectopic pregnancies. The goal of Micro-GIFT is to seek for novel approaches to non-invasively transport and release high-quality gametes/zygotes in the fallopian tube in vivo (mice model). For that multifunctional untethered microrobots (~100 µm size) will be developed making use of smart materials and advanced microtechnologies. However, there are major challenges that need to be overcome to bring this technology close to the clinic, such as the in vivo imaging and control of such microrobots, and their removal after use. The project will also provide deeper insights on the contribution of the fallopian tube on the natural embryo development and implantation, being crucial to create more natural procedures with high success rates. The PI has contributed significantly to the field of sperm-based microbots for assisted fertilization and targeted drug delivery as well as developed a variety of novel microbiosensors for molecular and cellular analysis.
Ámbito científico
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinegynaecologyreproductive medicine
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgerysurgical procedures
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineobstetrics
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineanaesthesiology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineembryology
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
01069 Dresden
Alemania