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Embryologists traditionally rely on visual assessments to identify suitable sperm cells, but this method is highly subjective and often ineffective.
By Pesach Benson, TPS
New imaging technology capable of analyzing the internal structure of live sperm cells has significantly improved the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF), offering new hope to couples struggling with infertility.
Developed at Tel Aviv University, the method is based on the light-conducting properties of biological cells to help embryologists identify high-quality sperm.
Studies of the technology and its clinical trials were recently published in several peer-reviewed journals, including PNAS, Advanced Science, and Fertility and Sterility.
Sperm quality directly affects successful fertilization, embryo development, and the chances of a healthy pregnancy and birth.
Not all sperm that externally appear normal and motile — referring to its mobility — are viable for fertilization, as many have hidden internal defects that can compromise embryo health.
Many couples undergo multiple IVF attempts due to poor sperm selection.
Embryologists traditionally rely on visual assessments to identify suitable sperm cells, but this method is highly subjective and often ineffective.
Studies indicate that 90% of sperm cells that appear viable under conventional microscopes fail to meet the World Health Organization’s standards.
Thus, IVF live birth rates range between 15-25%, with many couples undergoing multiple cycles before achieving a successful pregnancy.
While chemical dyes are commonly used in biological research to stain and analyze cells, they are toxic to live reproductive cells and can potentially damage the embryo’s DNA, leading to genetic abnormalities or failed pregnancies.
“This new method provides three-dimensional imaging and visualization of the internal structure of biological cells without chemical staining, as it is based on the light-conducting properties of the cell contents, known as the refractive index,” said Prof. Natan T. Shaked, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fleischman Faculty of Engineering at Tel Aviv University, who spearheaded the research.
“This method allows embryologists to analyze the internal structure and contents of live sperm cells and even measure new parameters like mass and volume. Embryologists can therefore select sperm cells that meet the [World Health Organization’s] structural criteria, achieving results comparable to chemical staining for live cells in the first time. This significantly increases the chances of successful fertilization, pregnancy, and the birth of a healthy baby, as demonstrated by the clinical trial results,” Shaked said.
In clinical trials at Ashkelon’s Barzilai Medical Center, IVF success rates doubled from 34% to 65. In one notable case, a couple who had undergone 15 unsuccessful IVF cycles finally achieved pregnancy for the first time using the imaging method.
The technology is being implemented through QART Medical, a Raanana-based startup company established with the support of Tel Aviv University’s investment fund, its technology transfer company, Ramot, as well as external investors.
Shaked’s team is now developing a new method to detect DNA fragmentation in sperm cells, which will be integrated into the new technology.
“Our goal is to provide embryologists with a technology that enables individual sperm selection based on three essential criteria: motility, internal structure, and unfragmented DNA. This will allow embryologists to select the best sperm cell for fertilization and dramatically improve success rates in this vital procedure,” said Shaked.
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