‘Womb chip’ fertilisation set for human embryo tests
Scientists are working on a miniature “womb-on-a-chip” which can churn out early-stage embryos after being fed with sperm and eggs. Once manufactured, the pinhead-sized embryos could be implanted into a woman’s womb, or frozen.
The researchers, from the University of Tokyo, hope the device will boost the success rate of IVF treatment. Conventional IVF involves moving or washing eggs or embryos with culture fluid, causing changes in temperature and acidity. This can lead to failed treatment cycles.
To improve the process, Dr Teruo Fujii’s team in Tokyo has produced a “lab-on-a chip” just 2mm wide in which up to 20 eggs can be fertilised at a time. Within the device, which acts like an automated, artificial womb, the embryos are grown until they are ready for implantation.
Endometrial cells, which line real wombs, are also grown in the womb chip, so the chemicals they produce can nourish the embryos.
“We are providing the embryos with a much more comfortable environment, mimicking what happens in the body,” Dr Fujii told New Scientist magazine.
He said experiments with mice suggested the chip was more successful than traditional IVF at producing embryos that would go on to become healthy foetuses.
Of 50 fertilised mouse eggs grown in the womb chip, 30 developed into early embryos, compared with 26 out of 50 created using a standard technique called “microdrop” IVF. This uses a drop of mineral oil to cover the fertilised egg.
The Tokyo team implanted chip-grown embryos into mice, and found 44% developed into healthy foetuses compared with 40% using the microdrop method.
Dr Fujii has permission and plans tests of the chip on human embryos this year.
