IJMS, Vol. 24, Pages 4788: Catechin Versus MoS2 Nanoflakes Functionalized with Catechin: Improving the Sperm Fertilizing Ability—An In Vitro Study in a Swine Model

IJMS, Vol. 24, Pages 4788: Catechin Versus MoS2 Nanoflakes Functionalized with Catechin: Improving the Sperm Fertilizing Ability—An In Vitro Study in a Swine Model

International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi: 10.3390/ijms24054788

Authors: Costanza Cimini Marina Ramal-Sanchez Angela Taraschi Flavio Della Pelle Annalisa Scroccarello Ramses Belda-Perez Luca Valbonetti Paola Lanuti Marco Marchisio Mario D’Atri Claudio Ortolani Stefano Papa Giulia Capacchietti Nicola Bernabò Dario Compagnone Barbara Barboni

Nowadays, the adoption of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) techniques is undergoing an impressive increase. In light of this, one of the most promising strategies is the novel use of non-physiological materials and naturally derived compounds for advanced sperm preparation methods. Here, sperm cells were exposed during capacitation to MoS2/Catechin nanoflakes and catechin (CT), a flavonoid with antioxidant properties, at concentrations of 10, 1, 0.1 ppm. The results showed no significant differences in terms of sperm membrane modifications or biochemical pathways among the groups, allowing the hypothesis that MoS2/CT nanoflakes do not induce any negative effect on the parameters evaluated related to sperm capacitation. Moreover, the addition of CT alone at a specific concentration (0.1 ppm) increased the spermatozoa fertilizing ability in an IVF assay by increasing the number of fertilized oocytes with respect to the control group. Our findings open interesting new perspectives regarding the use of catechins and new materials obtained using natural or bio compounds, which could be used to implement the current strategies for sperm capacitation.