Female reproductive tract-on-a-chip for selecting sperm with ultra-low DNA fragmentation index.

ABSTRACT: High levels of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) represent a critical factor in male infertility, with detrimental effects on embryonic development and offspring well-being. However, selecting sperm with low DFI remains a tremendous challenge. Here, we present an organ-level selection strategy capable of isolating spermatozoa with ultra-low DFI, achieving a remarkable reduction to 0.13% compared to 34.57% observed in raw semen. We design and fabricate a female reproductive tract (FRT)-on-a-chip (FRToC) device that mimics the entire physiological microenvironment for in vivo sperm selection, with clinical validation performed using samples from patients. The FRToC selects sperm with ultra-low DFI (mean: 0.71%) from patients with high DFI (mean: 41.93%), while also ensuring superior sperm

SUBMITTER: Dai J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12906502 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature