Iranian Scientists Study Optimization of Egg Freezing Process by Using Magnetic Field, Nanoparticles

Improving egg freezing by using magnetic field and nanoparticles is the title of the project that Fatemeh Bani Assadi, a PhD student in the field of physics, solid state and condensed matter, from Shahid Beheshti University, completed in the form of her postdoctoral project at Royan Research Institute.

“In this method, due to the use of high concentration of antifreeze and short water extraction time, the water is quickly removed from the cell and the surrounding environment of the cell suddenly turns into glassy ice or amorphous ice. The reason for using these compounds is to keep the concentration of the solution constant during freezing. Despite the high concentration of these protectors, speeding up the cooling and heating of the sample reduces the problems,” Bani Assadi said.

“Unlike the slow freezing method, glass freezing does not require expensive tools, however, the use of high-concentration antifreezes has caused toxicity in this method. To deal with the problem of the toxicity of antifreezes in glass freezing and the formation of ice crystals in slow freezing, auxiliary and even alternative solutions should be sought,” she added.

Noting that to deal with the problems in freezing methods, the first suggestion is to use magnetic or electric fields, Bani Assadi said, “In the next step, iron oxide nanoparticles should be used.”

“Optimization of egg freezing process with the help of magnetic field and nanoparticles, optimal preservation of female sex cells by freezing method in infertile patients with the least amount of damage was one of the goals pursued in this project and fortunately, we were able to successfully conclude this research,” she stated.

Based in Tehran, Royan Institute is a renowned center that provides comprehensive services for the infertility treatment, regenerative medicine/cell therapy, production of recombinant proteins and development of biological products.

Royan is only of the dozens of research service provider and clinical centers that provide services to infertile couples in Iran.

“Today, there are more than 100 infertility treatment centers in the country. One can say that all types of infertility can be treated inside the country now,” said Mohammad Reza Sadeghi, the head of Avicenna Research Institute which was founded and is run by the Institute of Applied Science Technology Jahad Daneshgahi (IASTJD).

“Even women who have lost chance of getting pregnant naturally at the age of 45 due to menopause or as a result of the cessation of the production of reproductive hormones, these people can go to infertility treatment centers to receive treatment even when they are 49, although the type, quality and success rate of treatment would be different,” added head of Avicenna Research Institute.

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