Li, Hui Ting (2022) MeaSuring free radIcals with diamond magnetometRy In hUman Semen and blood: SIRIUS pre-pilot study. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
A possible explanation for idiopathic male infertility is oxidative stress (OS) defined by the imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the capacity of the antioxidant defense system to counteract it. In physiological concentrations, ROS and especially free radicals (most reactive ROS) play an essential role in sperm maturation and fertilization, while an overabundance could lead to OS-induced damage to spermatozoa. To date, there are no proper detection techniques available that can measure the total amount of free radicals and identify where and when free radicals are generated exactly. Therefore, this study applies a new quantum sensing technique using fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs), called diamond magnetometry, which is uniquely sensitive and specific for free radicals allowing real-time measurements for nanoscale detection in living cells and body fluids, with preliminary data demonstrating free radical measurements in boar sperm. This proof-of-principle research shows new perspectives to explore the association between OS and semen quality to be potentially used as new diagnostic measures or to track therapeutic effects and disease development. The main objective of this study was to optimize and adapt the relaxometry technique to measure free radicals in semen of males visiting the fertility clinic. Next to that, we also attempted to use this technique to measure free radicals in human blood, which can be used in future research to establish a relation between local (semen) and systematic (blood) OS state. Using diamond magnetometry, we were able to measure free radical concentration in whole and processed semen, as well as whole blood, plasma, and serum. We did not observe FNDs attached to the head of the spermatozoa to measure on single-cell resolution. Although no significant correlations were found especially due to the small sample size, this study provides new perspectives on the development of diamond magnetometry as a potential diagnostic tool for male infertility.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Cantineau, dr. A.E.P. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Jun 2023 11:50 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Jun 2023 11:50 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3550 |
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