Spermbots and Their Applications in Assisted Reproduction: Current Progress and Future Perspectives

Sperm quality is declining dramatically during the past decades. Male infertility has been a serious health and social problem. The sperm cell driven biohybrid nanorobot opens a new era for automated and precise assisted reproduction. Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to conduct an updated review and perspective from the viewpoints of the researchers and clinicians in the field of reproductive medicine. In the present review, we first update the current classification, design, control and applications of various spermbots. Then, by a comprehensive summary of the functional features of sperm cells, the journey of sperms to the oocyte, and sperm-related dysfunctions, we provide a systematic guidance to further improve the design of spermbots. Focusing on the translation of spermbots into clinical practice, we point out that the main challenges are biocompatibility, effectiveness, and ethical issues. Considering the special requirements of assisted reproduction, we also propose the three laws for the clinical usage of spermbots: good genetics, gentle operation and no contamination. Finally, a three-step roadmap is proposed to achieve the goal of clinical translation. We believe that spermbot-based treatments can be validated and approved for in vitro clinical usage in the near future. However, multi-center and multi-disciplinary collaborations are needed to further promote the translation of spermbots into in vivo clinical applications.