Scientists turn sperm into microrobots to advance infertility care

Researchers at the University of Twente’s TechMed Centre have developed a novel technique to transform human sperm cells into magnetically controlled microrobots that can be tracked and steered inside a life-sized anatomical model using X-ray imaging. By coating sperm with magnetic nanoparticles, the team overcame the challenge of sperm’s invisibility under conventional imaging, enabling real-time visualization and precise navigation within the body. This breakthrough merges the natural mobility and flexibility of sperm with advanced robotics, opening new possibilities for targeted drug delivery and diagnostic applications in hard-to-reach reproductive areas. The technology holds promise for revolutionizing treatments of uterine conditions such as cancer, endometriosis, and fibroids by enabling minimally invasive, site-specific drug delivery. Additionally, tracking sperm movement in real time could enhance understanding of fertilization processes, unexplained infertility, and improve assisted reproductive techniques like IVF. Safety tests indicate that the sperm-nanoparticle clusters are biocompatible, showing no significant toxicity to human uterine cells after