METHOD FOR MOBILIZING IMMOBILIZED CELLS

Abstract

The invention concerns the fields of microtechnologies, biology and medicine and relates to a method for producing mobility in immobile cells as can be used, for example, for in vivo or in vitro fertilization.

The object of the present invention is to specify a method for producing mobility in individual immobile cells, with which method activity and guided mobility in previously immobile cells can be achieved.

The object is attained with a method for producing mobility in immobile cells in which an immobile cell is connected to a microstructure, .wherein the microstructure is composed at least partially of magnetic materials and a non-reciprocal movement of the microstructure with the immobile cell is executed by means of a time-varying, three-dimensional external magnetic field.

Claims

1. A method for producing mobility in immobile cells in which an immobile cell is connected to a microstructure, wherein the microstructure is composed at least partially of magnetic materials and a non-reciprocal movement of the microstructure with the immobile cell is executed by means of a time-varying, three-dimensional external magnetic field.

2. The method according to claim 1 in which immobile, non-motile sperm cells are used as immobile cells.

3. The method according to claim 1 in which a microstructure. composed of a magnetic material or of a material with magnetic particles is used.

4. The method according to claim 1 in which ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material is used as magnetic material.

5. The method according to claim 1 in which iron, iron oxide, cobalt or nickel or alloys of these materials, or these materials in combination with other materials, are used as magnetic material and non-magnetic materials coated with magnetic materials are used,

6. The method according to claim 1 in which a microstructure composed of a polymer is used, which polymer contains magnetic particles or which is coated fully or partially with magnetic particles or materials.

7. The method according to claim 1 in which a microstructure is used which has the shape of a helical structure or an artificial flexible flagellum.

8. The method according to claim 1 in which the positive-fit connection of the microstructure to the immobile cell is achieved by the shape of the microstructure.

9. The method according to claim 1 in which the connection of the microstructure to the immobile cell is achieved by a biochemical functionalization of surfaces.

10. The method according to claim 1 in which the microstructure used has lengths of 1 m-200 m and diameters of 1 m to 20 m.

11. The method according to claim 1 in which the connection of the immobile cell and microstructure is performed in vitro.

12. The method according to claim 1 in which a time-varying, three-dimensional magnetic field is achieved using permanent magnets or electromagnets.

13. A use of the method according to claim 1 for producing mobility in immobile cells inside the body of a mammal or human.

14. The use according to claim 13 for the controlled movement of originally non-motile sperm cells in the uterus, through the fallopian tube to the egg cell, where successful fertilization occurs.

Description

EXAMPLE

[0039] A biocompatible polymeric helical structure composed of OrmoComp (micro resist technology GmbH) is produced by means of three-dimensional laser writing. The helical structure has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the width of a human sperm head, that is, approximately 3 m, and a length of 80 m. The helical structure is then coated with a thin iron layer having a thickness of 30 nm in a vapor deposition process. The helical structure is designed to be ring-shaped. at one end. The ferromagnetic helical structure is moved by means of a time-varying external magnetic field and mechanically coupled to a non-motile sperm. This takes place outside of the human body, that is, in vitro. Following the mechanical coupling, the non-motile natural sperm flagellum is located in the middle of the helical structure. One or more spermatozoa coupled to helical structures are subsequently injected into the uterus of the female body via insemination. The spermatozoa coupled to helical structures are then set in motion by a rotating external magnetic field, steered through the fallopian tube and ultimately brought into contact with the egg cell, where successful fertilization takes place. The rotational direction of the magnetic field is then reversed, which causes the helical structure to move in the opposite direction and to therefore he separated and decoupled from the sperm. Finally, the helical structure is moved out of the body of the female.