The Effects of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles on Spermatological Parameters of Merino Ram

Year 2025, Volume: 22 Issue: 1, 13 - 18, 18.04.2025

Ali Erdem Öztürk , Aysu Balci , Gizem Sivri , Pınar Leblebici , Aslıhan Sağlam , Zeliha Kilinç , Esen Gül Yıldız , Mustafa Bodu

https://doi.org/10.32707/ercivet.1557680

Abstract

In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a rapidly advancing field with diverse applications across various sectors including materials science, electronics, healthcare, aerospace, environmental sustainability, defense, biotechnology, agriculture, and food industries. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have recently gained significance as nanomaterials due to their stability, inert properties, thermal durability, low density, minimal toxicity, and biocompatibility. These attributes will make mesoporous silica nanoparticles instrumental in drug delivery systems, cellular imaging, and therapeutic interventions. In this study, aimed at assessing the potential of MSNs as effective carriers for various materials to spermatozoa (sptz), experimental groups were established as control (C), MSN10 (10 μg/107 sptz), MSN20 (20 μg/107 sptz), and MSN40 (40 μg/107 sptz). To investigate this hypothesis, semen was collected from five healthy rams (2-3 years of age), pooled, diluted, and divided into experimental groups. Following this study, analyses were conducted on motility, dead-live spermatozoa ratio, functional integrity of the sperm's plasma membrane (HOST), and abnormal spermatozoa ratios across five replicates. It was observed that MSNs did not have a negative effect on the freezability of ram semen in terms of dead-live spermatozoa ratio and HOST data, but caused an increase in motility (MSN40) and head and tail abnormality levels compared to the control group, though still within acceptable ranges. In the light of the data obtained, it is suggested that MSNs can be used as biocarriers for ram semen in terms of basic spermatological parameters, but it is necessary to expand the scope of the research and conduct more detailed analyzes.

Keywords

Nanotechnology, Mesoporous Slica Nanoparticles, Ram, Sperm

Ethical Statement

The ethical approval required for the study was obtained through decision number 22/266 from the Erciyes University Local Animal Experiments Ethics Committee.

Supporting Institution

TUBITAK

Project Number

1919B012206003

Mezogözenekli Silika Nanopartiküllerinin Merinos Koçlarının Spermatolojik Parametreleri Üzerindeki Etkileri

Abstract

Nanoteknoloji, son yıllarda oldukça gelişim gösteren ve kullanım alanı bulan bir teknolojidir. Malzeme ve imalat sektörü, elektronik ve bilgisayar teknolojileri, tıp ve sağlık sektörü, havacılık ve uzay araştırmaları, çevre ve enerji, savunma sanayii, biyoteknoloji, tarım ve gıda gibi pek çok alanda kullanılmaya başlanmıştır. Son dönemde kullanım alanı bulan nanomalzemelerden bir tanesi de mezoporoz slika nanoparçacıklardır (MSN). Kararlılıkları, inert yapıları, termal dayanıklıkları, düşük yoğunlukları, düşük toksisiteleri ve biyouyumlulukları sayesinde mezoporoz silika nanopartiküller ilaç taşıma sistemlerinde, hücre görüntülemede ve tedavi yöntemlerinde önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu noktada MSN’lerin çeşitli materyalleri spermatozoaya (sptz) taşıma noktasında etkili bir ajan olup olmayacaklarının test edilmesi amacıyla yapılan bu çalışmada kontrol (C), 10 μg/107 sptz (MSN10), 20 μg/107 sptz (MSN20) ve 40 μg/107 sptz (MSN40) μg olacak şekilde gruplar oluşturulmuştur. Sağlıklı ve 2-3 yaşlarında 5 adet koçtan spermalar alınarak pooling yapılmış ve sulandırılarak deney gruplarına bölünmüştür. Toplamda 5 tekrar halinde yapılan bu çalışma sonucunda motilite, ölü-canlı spermatozoa oranı, membran dayanım oranı (HOST) ve anormal spermatozoa oranları hesaplanmıştır. Proje sonucunda MSN lerin koç spermasının dondurulabilirliği üzerine ölü-canlı spermatozoa oranı ve HOST verileri bakımından olumsuz bir etkisinin olmadığı, ancak kabul edilebilir sınırlar içerisinde olsa da, kontrol grubuna kıyasla, motilite ve anormalite düzeylerinde artışa neden olduğu görülmüştür. Elde edilen veriler ışığında MSN lerin koç sperması için biyo taşıyıcı olarak kullanılabileceği temel spermatolojik parametreler bakımından ön görülse de, araştırma kapsamının genişletilerek daha detaylı analizlerin yapılmasına ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır.

Keywords

Nanoteknoloji, Mezogözenekli Silika Nanoparçacıklar, Koç, Sperma

Ethical Statement

Çalışma için gerekli etik onay Erciyes Üniversitesi Yerel Hayvan Deneyleri Etik Kurulu'nun 22/266 sayılı kararı ile alınmıştır.

Supporting Institution

TUBİTAK

Project Number

1919B012206003

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