Effect of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with platelet lysate on <i>in vitro</i> fertilization and early embryo development in a mouse premature ovarian failure model

Abstract

Objective(s): Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a common cause of women's infertility. Cyclophosphamide (CP) is one of the most important gonadotoxic agents that lead to POF. This study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with platelet lysate (PLCH NPs) on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome and early embryo development in a model of CP-induced POF.Materials and Methods: In this study, synthesized nanoparticles were developed based on the ionic gelation method and characterized by the physicochemical properties of particle size, zeta potential, FTIR, microscopic studies, drug encapsulation, and in vitro drug release. Sixty female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into six groups: Control, sham, POF, POF-PL, POF-CH, and POF-PLCH. Finally, the PLCH NPs were examined for their therapeutic potential against CP-induced POF by evaluating Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), fertilization rate, and embryo development.Results: The results showed that PL's in vitro release profile has a sustained release pattern. The treatment of PLCH NPs in POF mice increased AMH and TAC and decreased MDA levels compared to the control group (P<0.05). The mean number of retrieved oocytes, cleavage and fertilization rates, and blastocyst formation rates were significantly increased in the POF-PLCH group compared with the POF group (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study proposes a novel PLCH NP-mediated combination therapy for the clinical treatment of POF and shows that PLCH NPs are superior to free PL in terms of effectiveness.