Micro-GIFT
Financiado
Microrobotic Gamete Zygote IntraFallopian Transfer
Infertility is a worldwide problem affecting ~11% of the reproductive-age population. Severe cases are currently treated by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic injection techniques (ICSI) with high fertilization rate...
Infertility is a worldwide problem affecting ~11% of the reproductive-age population. Severe cases are currently treated by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic injection techniques (ICSI) with high fertilization rates (~95%). However, embryo transfer is still the critical stage with only 32% of the cases resulting in clinical pregnancies. Moreover, the implantation rates per embryo remain very low (~17%) and often the procedure needs to be repeated several times with no success implying a high economic and social cost. Among the different methods used to overcome this issue, gamete or zygote ntrafallopian transfer (GIFT or ZIFT) seems more promising offering appropriate physiological environment for zygote/embryo development at an optimal synchronization between embryonic and endometrial preparation. However, these methods are invasive and involve surgical procedures and anaesthesia to introduce macroscopic imaging and manipulation tools into the female body, increasing the risk of injury and ectopic pregnancies. The goal of Micro-GIFT is to seek for novel approaches to non-invasively transport and release high-quality gametes/zygotes in the fallopian tube in vivo (mice model). For that multifunctional untethered microrobots (~100 µm size) will be developed making use of smart materials and advanced microtechnologies. However, there are major challenges that need to be overcome to bring this technology close to the clinic, such as the in vivo imaging and control of such microrobots, and their removal after use. The project will also provide deeper insights on the contribution of the fallopian tube on the natural embryo development and implantation, being crucial to create more natural procedures with high success rates. The PI has contributed significantly to the field of sperm-based microbots for assisted fertilization and targeted drug delivery as well as developed a variety of novel microbiosensors for molecular and cellular analysis.
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Duración del proyecto: 79 meses
Fecha Inicio: 2020-02-28
Fecha Fin: 2026-09-30
Fecha Fin: 2026-09-30
Línea de financiación: concedida
El organismo H2020 notifico la concesión del proyecto el día 2020-02-28
Línea de financiación objetivo
El proyecto se financió a través de la siguiente ayuda:
ERC-2019-STG:
ERC Starting Grant
Cerrada
hace 6 años
Presupuesto
El presupuesto total del proyecto asciende a
1M€
Líder del proyecto
ASOC CIC NANOGUNE
Actividades auxiliares a la educación asociacion
Perfil tecnológico
TRL
4-5
50K
Perfil tecnológico
TRL
4-5
50K
1.05M€ |
Participante