Microfluidics facilitating the use of small extracellular vesicles in innovative approaches to male infertility

Here, Goss et al. explore the diagnostic potential of male reproductive small extracellular vesicles and the practical approaches of implementing point-of-need and multianalyte diagnostics in infertility treatment, detailing microfluidic small extracellular vesicle isolation and analysis as an accessible and effective approach to achieving this outcome. Sperm are transcriptionally and translationally quiescent and, therefore, rely on the seminal plasma microenvironment for function, survival and fertilization of the oocyte in the oviduct. The male reproductive system influences sperm function via the binding and fusion of secreted epididymal (epididymosomes) and prostatic (prostasomes) small extracellular vesicles (S-EVs) that facilitate the transfer of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids to sperm. Seminal plasma S-EVs have important roles in sperm maturation, immune and oxidative stress protection, capacitation, fertilization and endometrial implantation and receptivity. Supplementing asthenozoospermic samples with normospermic-derived S-EVs can improve sperm motility and S-EV microRNAs can be used to predict non-obstructive azoospermia. Thus, S-EV influence on sperm physiology might have both therapeutic and diagnostic potential; however, the isolation of pure populations of S-EVs from bodily fluids with current conventional methods presents a substantial hurdle. Many conventional techniques lack accuracy, effectiveness, and practicality; yet microfluidic technology has the potential to simplify and improve S-EV isolation and detection.

Automated summary

In this study, Goss et al. explore the diagnostic potential of male reproductive small extracellular vesicles (S-EVs) and the practical approaches of implementing point-of-need and multianalyte diagnostics in infertility treatment. They find that S-EVs have the potential to influence sperm physiology therapeutically and diagnostically. However, the isolation of pure populations of S-EVs from bodily fluids with current conventional methods presents a substantial hurdle. Microfluidic technology has the potential to simplify and improve S-EV isolation and detection.