Exploring the full potential of sperm function with nanotechnology tools

Authors: KAMEN, SERGE - Mississippi State University; DLAMINI, NOTSILE - Mississippi State University; FEUGANG, JEAN - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Animal Reproduction Science
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2024
Publication Date: 8/16/2024
Citation: Kamen, S.L., Dlamini, N.M., Feugang, J.M. 2024. Exploring the full potential of sperm function with nanotechnology tools. Animal Reproduction Science. 21(3)e20240033. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-3143-AR2024-0033.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-3143-AR2024-0033

Interpretive Summary: Sperm quality is essential to guarantee the success of assisted reproduction. However, selecting high-quality sperm and maintaining it during (cryo)preservation for high efficiency remains challenging in livestock reproduction. A comprehensive understanding of sperm biology allows for better assessment of sperm quality, which could replace conventional sperm analyses used today to predict fertility with low accuracy. This review explore potential biomarkers associated with sperm phenotypes and highlight the benefits of combining these biomarkers with nanoparticles to further improve sperm preparation and technology.

Technical Abstract: Omics approaches have revealed numerous biomarkers associated with various sperm phenotypic traits such as quality, survival during storage, freezability, and fertility. At the same time, nanotechnology is emerging as a new biotechnology with high potential for use in preparing sperm intended to improve reproduction in livestock. The unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles make them exciting tools for targeting (e.g., sperm damage and sexing) and non-targeting bioapplications. Recent advances in sperm biology have led to the discovery of numerous biomarkers, making it possible to target specific subpopulations of spermatozoa within the ejaculate.