Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Design and development of novel magnetic nanoparticles and its employment for sex-sorting of bovine spermatozoa |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Reproductive Biotechnology, Livestock Improvement |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | snrana@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | In order to retain the pole position in milk production and to become a global dairy in near future, domestic production of sex-sorted bovine semen using indigenous technology is considered a key deliverable. The commercially available sorted bovine semen is costly, and conception rate is not up to the mark. The flow cytometer-based technology that works on the principle of differential DNA content between X- and Y-chromosomes (sex chromosomes) bearing spermatozoa is slow and stressful to the cells. An alternate which is easier as well as economic and gentle to the spermatozoa is the need of the hour. To bridge this gap, it is proposed to make use of the differences in electrokinetic potential (EKP) between X- and Y-spermatozoa and separate the two types of cells using nanobiotechnological approaches. The EKP is the potential difference that exists at the surface of hydrodynamic shear and is the actual electric charge of a particle in the bulk dispersant. It is a fundamental attribute for analysing the behaviour of any living cells in an electrical field. It is hypothesized that there is a stable EKP difference between X- and Y-spermatozoa of (indicus) cattle which can be the basis for their separation. For this purpose, robust estimates of EKP of X and Y-spermatozoa will be produced across breeds of (indicus) cattle. Biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) will be synthesized and characterized that differentially attract/bind to the X- and/or Y-spermatozoa based on EKP in a magnetic field of developed prototype. The separated spermatozoa will be assessed thoroughly for their characteristics, kinematics and specificity using advanced tools and markers. A SOP will be developed for efficient and scalable production. Profiling of EKP of X- and Y-spermatozoa of (indicus) cattle will help establish it as a conserved trait. The developed biocompatible MNP and the prototype for semen-sexing will serve as a platform for improvement of multiple assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in farm animals. The proposed process will mimic more to the natural selection and gentle to the spermatozoa, and thereby no significant compromise will be made to the normal biology of spermatozoa. It will lead to a simple, efficient, scalable and economic method of sex-sorting of bovine spermatozoa based on nanobiotechnological approaches. |
Total Budget (INR): | 41,95,858 |
Organizations involved