New Hyaluronic Acid-Based Bioengineered 3D Scaffold: Fabrication and Potential for Oocyte In Vitro Maturation.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) efficiency is limited by suboptimal culture conditions.
• Mimicking the native ovarian microenvironment is crucial for improving IVM outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of hyaluronic acid (HA) incorporated into alginate-based 3D scaffolds on oocyte maturation.
• To optimize scaffold properties for enhanced in vitro embryo production (IVEP).

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of bioengineered microbeads using alginate, collagen I, and granulosa cells, with varying HA concentrations (2 and 4 mg/mL).
• Characterization of scaffold morphology, microstructure, and mechanical properties.
• In vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro embryo cleavage (IVEC) of sheep oocytes cultured within the scaffolds.

Main Results:

• HA-enriched scaffolds exhibited improved sphericity, stability, and concentration-dependent pore size reduction.
• The 2 mg/mL HA scaffold significantly enhanced cumulus cell expansion, metaphase II rates, and embryo cleavage rates compared to controls.
• Lowered apoptosis levels in cumulus and granulosa cells were observed with 2 mg/mL HA, suggesting a protective effect.

Conclusions:

• The addition of 2 mg/mL hyaluronic acid to 3D alginate scaffolds optimizes the microenvironment for oocyte maturation and embryo development.
• HA-enriched scaffolds provide a balance of structural support and mechanical properties, promoting successful IVM and IVEP.
• Further research is needed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying HA's beneficial effects on oocyte quality.