Medical Bulletin 08/September/2025

Oocyte cumulus removal is essential in ART procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF), as it allows embryologists to assess oocyte maturity and prepare eggs for fertilization. Traditionally, this process involves repeated manual flushing of the oocyte with a micropipette, requiring highly skilled technicians and posing a risk of damaging the cells. This time-intensive technique is both laborious and expensive, often limiting access in low-resource settings.

In response, the Cornell team developed a portable, disposable chip that uses vibration-induced flow to automate the CR process. The chip contains a spiral array of micropillars that, when vibrated, generate a whirling flow to separate cumulus cells from the oocyte. “This platform is a potential game-changer,” said Alireza Abbaspourrad, associate professor of food chemistry and ingredient technology in food science. “It reduces the need for skilled technicians, minimizes contamination risks and ensures consistent results – all while being portable and cost-effective.”

Unlike traditional methods, the oocytes remain safely in the chip’s loading chamber, while the detached cumulus cells are swept into a separate collection well.

To validate the chip’s safety and effectiveness, researchers compared fertilization and embryo development outcomes between oocytes treated with vibration-induced flow and those denuded manually. Fertilization rates were nearly identical—93.1% for the chip versus 90.7% for manual pipetting—while blastocyst formation rates were also comparable.

“This shows that our method doesn’t compromise the developmental potential of the oocytes,” Abbaspourrad said. “With this, you don’t need a highly trained human to do it. And what is really important is there is almost no chance of damaging or losing the cell.”

Reference: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/09/good-vibrations-could-revolutionize-assisted-reproductive-technology

How Smoking Fuels Pancreatic Cancer Growth and Worsens Outcomes

A new study published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, sheds light on why smokers have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer and experience worse outcomes compared to nonsmokers. Researchers from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have identified a specific immune pathway triggered by cigarette toxins that drives aggressive tumor growth.

The study focused on how a chemical commonly found in cigarettes and other environmental pollutants influences pancreatic tumors. Researchers gave this chemical to mice with pancreatic cancer to observe its effects on Interleukin-22 (IL22), a protein previously linked to the tumor microenvironment.

The research team discovered that a unique receptor on IL22-producing cells binds to these chemical toxins, not to naturally occurring proteins. The toxins then trigger IL22 release, which in turn fuels tumor progression. Notably, in mice lacking an immune system, the toxins failed to promote tumor growth—highlighting the immune system's central role in the process.

Digging deeper, the team identified a subset of immune cells known as T-regulatory (Treg) cells as key players. These cells not only produce IL22 but also suppress the body’s natural anti-tumor response. “These T-regulatory cells have the ability to both make IL22 but also massively suppress any anti-tumor immunity. It’s a two-pronged attack,” said Timothy L. Frankel, M.D., co-director of the Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer and Maud T. Lane Professor of Surgical Oncology at Michigan Medicine. When researchers removed these Treg cells, tumor growth driven by cigarette toxins was reversed.

The findings were validated in human immune cells and pancreatic cancer tissues. Smokers with pancreatic cancer had significantly higher levels of Treg cells compared to nonsmokers. Encouragingly, an experimental drug that blocks the cigarette toxin showed effectiveness in shrinking tumors.

The study also highlights the importance of tailored treatment based on smoking history and calls for improved screening strategies for high-risk individuals. More research is needed to explore therapeutic options that target this pathway.

Reference: https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/study-shows-how-smoking-drives-pancreatic-cancer

Chip to Simplify Fertility Treatments Using Vibration Technology: Study

A new study published in Lab on a Chip introduces a device developed by researchers at Cornell University that could revolutionize assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The innovation, a vibration-powered microfluidic chip, automates and simplifies oocyte cumulus removal (CR)—a crucial and delicate step in fertility treatments—while also making the procedure more accessible and affordable worldwide.

Oocyte cumulus removal is essential in ART procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF), as it allows embryologists to assess oocyte maturity and prepare eggs for fertilization. Traditionally, this process involves repeated manual flushing of the oocyte with a micropipette, requiring highly skilled technicians and posing a risk of damaging the cells. This time-intensive technique is both laborious and expensive, often limiting access in low-resource settings.

In response, the Cornell team developed a portable, disposable chip that uses vibration-induced flow to automate the CR process. The chip contains a spiral array of micropillars that, when vibrated, generate a whirling flow to separate cumulus cells from the oocyte. “This platform is a potential game-changer,” said Alireza Abbaspourrad, associate professor of food chemistry and ingredient technology in food science. “It reduces the need for skilled technicians, minimizes contamination risks and ensures consistent results – all while being portable and cost-effective.”

Unlike traditional methods, the oocytes remain safely in the chip’s loading chamber, while the detached cumulus cells are swept into a separate collection well.

To validate the chip’s safety and effectiveness, researchers compared fertilization and embryo development outcomes between oocytes treated with vibration-induced flow and those denuded manually. Fertilization rates were nearly identical—93.1% for the chip versus 90.7% for manual pipetting—while blastocyst formation rates were also comparable.

“This shows that our method doesn’t compromise the developmental potential of the oocytes,” Abbaspourrad said. “With this, you don’t need a highly trained human to do it. And what is really important is there is almost no chance of damaging or losing the cell.”

Reference: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/09/good-vibrations-could-revolutionize-assisted-reproductive-technology