Separation of healthy sperms using dielectrophoresis and thigmotaxis phenomena

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 mechanical Engineering Department, Tarbiat modares university

2 Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran

3 Faculty Member, Tarbiat Modares University

10.22034/ijme.2024.422437.1870

Abstract

Separation of healthy sperm (motile and with the best DNA structure) is traditionally done by density gradient centrifugation or upward swimming methods. In recent years, microfluidic methods have been developed to separate motile sperm with the best morphology and DNA structure and will replace traditional methods in close future. Microfluidic systems require a smaller sample volume, which, in addition to higher purity, has advantages such as cost reduction and test time reduction.. In this research, by using thigmotaxis phenomenon in which sperms follow the channel wall and also positive dielectrophoresis phenomenon in which traps the particles based on applying non uniform electric field, a microfluidic actuator is presented. By using a large number of microchannel parallel to each other, the motile sperm, follow the walls and move to the end of channels. Then, by applying 1 MHz in 3 V, the positive dielectrophoresis force traps the sperms with low motility, but the sperms with high motility have the ability to escape from the electric field and reach the outlet of the channel. In order to check the electric field and also the fluid flow in the channels, Comsol software was used. Based on the design and simulation, the sperm separation actuator was manufactured and tested. The clinical tests results showed that compared to the inlet of the device, the motility was increased from 54% to 81% and the viability was increased from 56% to 75% in the outlet of the manufactured system.

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Iranian Journal of Manufacturing Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 28 February 2024

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