Protein-Free Embryo Culture Media Pathogen Risk Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current embryo culture media for human Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) contain human or bovine serum proteins, which pose risks of transmitting diseases such as AIDS and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and lack a completely protein-free medium for human application, hindering the generation of viable human embryos.
Innovation Solution
Development of a series of substantially protein-free media, termed PFM-11, which replaces serum proteins with non-protein components like methylcellulose and D-mannitol, supporting human embryo development from egg retrieval to embryo transfer without added donor proteins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If serum proteins (HSA or BSA) are used in embryo culture media, then embryo development support is improved, but the risk of transmitting protein-bound pathogens (AIDS, hepatitis, CJD) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes serum proteins (HSA or BSA) from the embryo culture media, extracting the harmful component while retaining the essential nutrient functions through alternative protein-free formulations. This eliminates the vector for pathogen transmission while maintaining embryo development support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs chemically-defined, synthetic nutrient formulations that replace biological serum proteins. These synthetic media can be sterilized and stored without risk of pathogen contamination, effectively creating a 'disposable' safe alternative to reusable serum-based media.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protein-free medium is developed for human ART, then pathogen transmission risk is eliminated, but the ability to support viable human embryo development is uncertain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically optimizes the chemical composition parameters of the protein-free media, adjusting concentrations of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to achieve optimal embryo development conditions without serum proteins. This involves changing the chemical parameters to compensate for the absence of biological proteins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite chemically-defined medium comprising multiple synthetic components (amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, buffers) that work synergistically to replace the functions of serum proteins, achieving both safety and efficacy.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If chemically-defined protein-free media are used, then media stability and storage capability are improved, but complexity of formulation and optimization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex protein-free media formulation into separate sterile-filtered components that can be individually prepared, sterilized, and stored. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall formulation process while maintaining stability during storage.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention discloses a substantially protein-free cell culture solution for assisted reproductive technologies and methods of use thereof.