Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS)

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Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS)
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What is it

• MACS is a sperm separation technique used in
  A.R.T
• It is said to separate morphologically normal
  sperms which displays higher potential for
  fertilization
• It allows separation of good quality sperm from
  apoptotic sperm (Sperm programmed to die) which
  may be one of the causes for failure of IVF

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Method used

• Negative selection
• Annexine V microbeads conjugated magnetic beads
  bind to a marker- phosphatidylserine which is
  present on the surface of the apoptotic sperm.
• The sperms are exposed to a magnetic field
• The sperms onto which the magnetic beads bind are
  trapped in the column.
• The sperms onto which the magnetic beads do not
  bind pass through- These are healthy sperms

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Method used
Annexine V specific antibodies attached for
phosphatidylserine
Sperms expressing Annexine V will attach to the
magnetic nanoparticles
Superparamagnetic nanoparticles and columns
Column placed in a strong magnetic field
Cells attached to the nanoparticles (expressing
the antigen) stay on the column
Cells not expressing the antigen flow through
Healthy Sperms
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Indications to use MACS

• Low sperm quality - motility and morphology
• Heavy smokers, varicocele etc.
• Patients with more than 2 cycles with unexpected
  poor fertilization
• Poor embryo quality/blastocyst rate
• Repeated miscarriages

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