Novel sperm immobilization technology for large scale production of bull semen doses

SpermVital AS har utviklet og patentert en revolusjonerende teknologi for immobilisering og dypfrysing (kryokonservering) av sædceller. Spermier immobiliseres i en alginat-gel, som gradvis oppløses inne i hunndyret etter kunstig sædoverføring. I motsetning til standard sæddoser der alle spermier frigis umiddelbart etter inseminasjon, vil gelen med immobilisert sæd gradvis smelte og frigjøre populasjoner med spermier i minst 24 timer etter inseminasjon, og dermed vil fertile spermier være til stede over en lengre periode. Teknologien er i kommersiell bruk hos avlsselskaper for storfe og gjør tidspunktet for kunstig sædoverføring mindre kritisk, med potensial for økt fruktbarhet og produksjonseffektivitet. De nåværende produksjonsprosedyrene krever imidlertid opplært personell fra SpermVital hos kundene, noe som begrenser markedsutvidelsen. SpermVital har dermed blitt sterkt berørt av Covid19 på grunn av reisebegrensninger. Målet med det foreslåtte prosjektet er å introdusere en ny, effektiv og brukervennlig teknologi i markedet der geleringsprosessen initieres og fullføres automatisk etter fylling av sædbeholderne (stråene).

SpermVital AS has developed and patented a technology for immobilization and cryopreservation of sperm. The company has launched the product in the market for bull semen, in Norway and in several European countries, and is experiencing significant demand. The sperm are immobilized in a homogeneous alginate gel, which gradually dissolves inside the female after AI. This revolutionary semen processing technology is designed to provide greater flexibility for the timing of AI and thereby change the worldwide negative trend of fertility. Contrary to standard AI where all sperm are immediately deposited, the gel with immobilized sperm will release distinct sperm populations for at least 24 hours and thus allows fertile sperm to be present over an extended period of time. However, the current production procedure is quite complicated handicraft with limitations in production efficiency. The objective of the proposed project is to disrupt the AI market by introduction of a novel technology where the SpermVital gelation process is automatically initialized and completed following filling of the semen containers. With this novel technology, gelling is controlled by the release of molecules from the semen container material. This will eliminate SpermVital's current limitations by simplifying the AI dose production process, thus meeting the market demand for the technology, and expanding the international market significantly by manufacturing and marketing ready-made production kits. In the project, it is important to ensure that SpermVital's product processed with a new technology has stable quality and a well-documented effect when used in large-scale production. This will be documented through characterization of sperm quality, studies of the gel and in vitro studies that mimic the natural environment in females. Furthermore, dissolution, release and survival will be documented in vivo through pilot and large field trials.