Technology

The use of in vitro embryo manipulation is expanding as new applications emerge. These applications include: producing genetically improved livestock ; producing transgenic animals that generate pharmaceutical products in their milk; producing chimeric animals for cancer and genetic disease research; and enabling infertile couples to become pregnant. Common in-vitro production (IVP) processes include in-vitro maturation (IVM), in-vitro fertilization (IVF), in-vitro embryo culture (IVC), embryo biopsy, and nuclear transfer. Vitae's proprietary microfluidic technology has been developed specifically for use in assisted reproduction. The use of microfluidic devices in assisted reproduction improves manipulation processes and developmental efficiencies. Such improvements lead to lower costs, increased access and decreased emotional and physical stress.

Microfluidics allows oocytes and embryos to be handled in a much gentler manner than traditional pipetting techniques allow. Instead of moving embryos from one microdrop to another, in Vitae's devices the embryo is gently moved into a specified location and "parked." Different media is then moved to the embryo. Media changes can be achieved gradually reducing enviromental stress.

Vitae's microchannel devices contain much smaller volumes of media than traditional microdrop culture systems. The image to the left illustrates the different volumes - microchannel is shown emerging from the micro drop to illustrate the difference in scale (oocyte/embryo shown as small sphere). (Illustration courtesy of Henry Zeringue)

Left panel - Comparison of traditional microdrop IVP system (upper) vs. microchannel system (lower). Center channel - Approximate to scale comparison of a single microdrop vs. microchannel. Right flat panel - Close-up illustration of the "parking place" region of microchannel. The embryo/oocyte is held stationary while fluid can flow around and past. This allows for easy visualization during IVP and facilitates media changes and chemical treatments. (Illustration courtesy of Henry Zeringue)

Mice studies using Vitae's prototype culture device demonstrate enhanced developmental kinetics (more in vivo like) and significantly improved developmental efficiencies.

In addition to providing a more in-vivo like culture environment, microfluidic technology is ideally suited for complex embryo manipulations, such as removal of the zona pellucida and stripping of cumulus cells. View video demonstrations of microfluidic cumulus stripping and zona removal. Note: shiny spherical objects in both videos are tiny air bubbles in the microchannels. (Videos courtesy of H. Zeringue - University of Wisconsin, Madison)

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