NANOREP®: NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EASY AND SAFE HANDLING OF OOCYTES AND EMBRYO

It is a new nanotechnology that allows the manipulation of oocytes and embryos in an easy and safe way through a novel molecular method, which is based on the use of biocompatible nanoparticles adhered to said oocytes/embryos. Specifically, this technology consists of a simple procedure to attach nanoparticles to the external surface of oocytes and/or embryos. The method comprises the following steps: 1) The magnetic nanoparticles are conjugated with the recombinant protein. It is verified that the conjugating nanoparticles bind to the external zone, called the pellucid zone, of oocytes/embryos after coincubation. 2) The number of oocytes/embryos that have bound nanoparticles without being endocytosed is checked. It is also evaluated whether this number of cells is sufficient to be attracted by a magnetic field, normally around 80% of these being attracted. 3) Once the nanoparticles are adhered, the oocytes/embryos can move in any required direction or remain fixed, avoiding their direct physical manipulation, since their movement is achieved through the application of controlled magnetic fields. The new methodology, which uses a combination of nanotechnology and molecular biology, helps improve laboratory workflows and protocols, making in vitro embryo production processes easier to carry out, reducing costs, minimizing human errors and losses of high-value genetic material. The incorporation of this method is essential for the successful completion of new assisted reproductive technologies and their commercialization.