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Cited by 20Reproductive Biology and FertilityReproductive Health and TechnologiesAssisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy

A novel isolator-based system promotes viability of human embryos during laboratory processing

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Hyslop, Louise, Prathalingam, Nilendran, Nowak, Lynne, Fenwick, Jeanette, Harbottle, Steve, Byerley, Samantha, Rhodes, John, Watson, Bruce +3 more·2012·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0031010PMC PMC3290619
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Abstract

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and related technologies are arguably the most challenging of all cell culture applications. The starting material is a single cell from which one aims to produce an embryo capable of establishing a pregnancy eventually leading to a live birth. Laboratory processing during IVF treatment requires open manipulations of gametes and embryos, which typically involves exposure to ambient conditions. To reduce the risk of cellular stress, we have developed a totally enclosed system of interlinked isolator-based workstations designed to maintain oocytes and embryos in a physiological environment throughout the IVF process. Comparison of clinical and laboratory data before and after the introduction of the new system revealed that significantly more embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in the enclosed isolator-based system compared with conventional open-fronted laminar flow hoods. Moreover, blastocysts produced in the isolator-based system contained significantly more cells and their development was accelerated. Consistent with this, the introduction of the enclosed system was accompanied by a significant increase in the clinical pregnancy rate and in the proportion of embryos implanting following transfer to the uterus. The data indicate that protection from ambient conditions promotes improved development of human embryos. Importantly, we found that it was entirely feasible to conduct all IVF-related procedures in the isolator-based workstations.

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  • In IVF, fully enclosed isolator systems significantly improved embryo development to the blastocyst stage, yielding higher cell numbers and accelerated growth compared to conventional open-fronted laminar flow hoods, resulting in increased pregnancy and implantation rates.

    “For example, in reproductive medicine, the implementation of fully enclosed isolator systems for in vitro fertilization (IVF) has significantly improved embryo development to the blastocyst stage, yielding higher cell numbers and accelerated growth compared to conventional open-fronted laminar flow hoods, ultimately resulting in increased pregnancy and implantation rates (Hyslop et al., 2012).”

    From Isolator-based point-of-care manufacturing: a practical solution for GMP-compliant cell and extracellular vesicles therapy production (2025) · cites this paper as Hyslop et al., 2012

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Authors
Hyslop, L., Prathalingam, N., Nowak, L., Fenwick, J., Harbottle, S., Byerley, S., Rhodes, J., Watson, B., Henderson, R., Murdoch, A., & Herbert, M.
Affiliations
  • Centre for Life (GB)
  • University Hospital of North Tees (GB)
  • Northumbria University (GB)
  • Newcastle University (GB)
Corresponding author
Herbert, Mary
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2012-02-29
Volume
7
Issue
2
Pages
e31010
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0031010
PMC
PMC3290619
OpenAlex
W2035195820
Cited by
20
References
0
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2012: 1
FWCI
1.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity) (cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (096919)
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
Keywords
in vitro fertilization, embryo culture, embryonic development, blastocyst development, oocyte culture, laminar flow hood, clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation, embryo viability
MeSH terms
Animals, Blastocyst, Cell Count, Embryo Transfer, Equipment Design, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Fetal Viability, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Laboratories, Oocytes, Ovulation Induction, Regression Analysis, Temperature, Observer Variation, Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic, Reproductive Techniques, Assisted, Mice

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