State-of-the-Art and Prospective of Nanotechnologies for Smart Reproductive Management of Farm Animals

Abstract

Many biotechnological assisted reproductive techniques (ART) are currently used to control the reproductive processes of farm animals. Nowadays, smart ART that considers technique efficiency, animal welfare, cost efficiency and environmental health are developed. Recently, the nanotechnology revolution has pervaded all scientific fields including the reproduction of farm animals, facilitating certain improvements in this field. Nanotechnology could be used to improve and overcome many technical obstacles that face different ART. For example, semen purification and semen preservation processes have been developed using different nanomaterials and techniques, to obtain semen doses with high sperm quality. Additionally, nanodrugs delivery could be applied to fabricate several sex hormones (steroids or gonadotrophins) used in the manipulation of the reproductive cycle. Nanofabricated hormones have new specific biological properties, increasing their bioavailability. Applying nanodrugs delivery techniques allow a reduction in hormone dose and improves hormone kinetics in animal body, because of protection from natural biological barriers (e.g., enzymatic degradation). Additionally, biodegradable nanomaterials could be used to fabricate hormone-loaded devices that are made from non-degradable materials, such as silicon and polyvinyl chloride-based matrixes, which negatively impact environmental health. This review discusses the role of nanotechnology in developing some ART outcomes applied in the livestock sector, meeting the concept of smart production.

Efficiency of GnRH–Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Inducing LH Secretion and Fertile Ovulations in Protocols for Artificial Insemination in Rabbit Does

“…Nano-drug delivery systems have been optimized to extend the half-life time of the compound to improve its passage across endothelial or epithelial barriers into blood or lymph circulation and to sustain its delivery to the target sites. Consequently, overcoming these biological barriers can improve cellular uptake and therefore lower doses of drugs/hormones may be used [5][6][7][8][9]. Hence, nano-drug systems for hormonal treatments (e.g., GnRH for ovulation induction) may benefit many biotechnological assisted reproductive techniques in the livestock field (e.g., AI [5]).…”

“…Consequently, overcoming these biological barriers can improve cellular uptake and therefore lower doses of drugs/hormones may be used [5][6][7][8][9]. Hence, nano-drug systems for hormonal treatments (e.g., GnRH for ovulation induction) may benefit many biotechnological assisted reproductive techniques in the livestock field (e.g., AI [5]). However, there is a scarcity of data regarding both hormone bioactivity and animal performance when GnRH is used in nano-formula, although previous results are promising.…”

Toxic and Microbiological Effects of Iron Oxide and Silver Nanoparticles as Additives on Extended Ram Semen

“…It is known that NPs express antibacterial activity depending on the size, the concentration and the duration of contact interaction with the target microorganisms [ 59 , 60 ]. It is suggested that exploitation of NPs on animal assisted reproductive management could enhance fertility, considering that different types of NPs produce different effects on semen [ 18 , 61 ]. In our study, Ag/Fe NPs demonstrated higher antimicrobial capacity, along with higher cytotoxicity on ram sperm.…”

Potential impacts of COVID-19 on reproductive health: Scientific findings and social dimension

“…Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species have been identified as possible causes of male infertility ( Dutta et al., 2019 ). These radically active molecules can adversely affect sperm cell motility and sperm DNA integrity, and thus sperm fertilizability ( Hosny et al, 2020 , Hashem and Gonzalez-Bulnes, 2020 ). Similarly, COVID-19 may affect ovum competency through the same oxidative stress pathways ( Menezo et al., 2016 ).…”