Lessons from bioengineering the ovarian follicle: a personal perspective

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Bioengineering
• Materials science
• Inorganic chemistry

Background:

• Ovarian follicle maturation is crucial for reproduction.
• Recent advances have been driven by interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Extragonadal follicle models have significant clinical potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on ovarian follicle biology and maturation.
• To highlight the development and implications of extragonadal follicle models.
• To discuss the role of bioengineering, materials science, and chemistry in advancing follicle research.

Main Methods:

• Development of the EVATAR system for extracorporeal ovarian function.
• Mimicking the endocrine environment of the reproductive tract in an engineered system.
• Application of inorganic chemistry to investigate oocyte maturation requirements.

Main Results:

• In vitro follicle maturation is achievable in an engineered environment.
• The EVATAR system enables extended extracorporeal ovarian function.
• Oocytes require zinc for maturation, a novel finding in follicle biology.

Conclusions:

• Interdisciplinary approaches have significantly advanced understanding of ovarian follicle biology.
• Engineered systems like EVATAR offer new models for studying ovarian function.
• The discovery of zinc's role in oocyte maturation opens new avenues for research and potential clinical applications.