title: Effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles upon the function of mammalian sperm in vitro.
abstract: Nanomaterial-mediated delivery represents a promising technique for reproductive biology with a potential to improve the safety and efficacy of existing methodologies, including experimental gene therapy and sperm-mediated gene transfer. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have been characterised as a powerful and safe delivery tool, rendering them an excellent candidate for use in reproductive research. However, their effects upon mammalian gametes with highly specialised structure and functionality remain untested. Here, we show for the first time, that spherical MSNPs with hexagonal pore symmetry, functionalised with polyethileneimine and aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and optionally loaded with two common types of cargo (nucleic acid/protein), form strong associations with boar sperm following incubation in vitro and do not exert negative effect upon the main parameters of sperm function, including motility, viability, acrosomal status and DNA fragmentation index. Our findings provide a rationale for the use of MSNPs for the transfer of investigative, diagnostic and/or therapeutic compounds into mammalian sperm.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) are demonstrated as efficient agents for the transfer of investigative, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic compounds into mammalian sperm. This promising technique has the potential to improve the safety and efficacy of existing methodologies, including experimental gene therapy and sperm-mediated gene transfer.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barkalina
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Junaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kashir
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coote
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Xinyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Townley
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: kevin.coward@obs-gyn.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coward
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011437:Propylamines; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D011437:Propylamines; D012821:Silanes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; C477625:amino-propyl-triethoxysilane
keywords: Delivery; Mesoporous silica; Nanoparticles; Sperm; Toxicity