Laser Immobilization of Sperm for ICSI
Costa-Borges et al, ASRM, 2024
Before a sperm is injected into an egg during ICSI, it needs to be immobilized, or simply put, made to stop moving. This research study used laser technology to immobilize mouse sperm to determine the optimal laser settings and assess safety. The researchers found precise settings that produced optimal results in terms of successful immobilization and embryo development when the sperm were used for ICSI in mouse eggs. They also found some settings and target locations (like the sperm head) to be detrimental to development. The experiments help advance efforts to integrate laser immobilization in ICSI in a clinical setting thus making it more standardized, less time consuming and more reliable.