Exosome-Enriched Culture Media to Enhance In Vitro Maturation and Embryo Development in Poor Ovarian Responders Undergoing IVF

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

10 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-07-02

Study Completion Date

2025-01-28

Brief Summary

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Evaluating the Efficacy of Exosome-Enriched Culture Media to Enhance In Vitro Maturation and Embryo Development in Poor Ovarian Responders Undergoing IVF

Summary:

This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial designed to assess whether supplementing standard IVF culture media with exosomes can improve the short-term in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature MI oocytes in poor ovarian responder patients.

Sixty women aged 35-42 who meet Bologna criteria for poor ovarian response will be recruited and randomized into two groups:

Control group: MI oocytes cultured in standard IVF media.

Intervention group: MI oocytes cultured in IVF media supplemented with 10 µg of GMP-certified exosomes per well.

The primary outcome is the proportion of MI oocytes maturing to MII within 4 hours. Secondary outcomes include fertilization rates, embryo quality, blastocyst development, and clinical pregnancy rates.

This study aims to explore a novel approach to improving oocyte yield and embryo development in poor responder IVF cycles, potentially reducing the need for repeated treatments and enhancing patient outcomes.

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Detailed Description

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This is a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of exosome-enriched culture media in promoting the short-term in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes retrieved from poor ovarian responder patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Rationale:

Poor ovarian responders represent a significant clinical challenge in assisted reproductive technology (ART), often yielding a low number of mature metaphase II (MII) oocytes after controlled ovarian stimulation. A substantial proportion of oocytes retrieved in these patients remain at the metaphase I (MI) stage and traditionally show limited capacity for maturation, thereby reducing the pool of oocytes available for fertilization.

Emerging preclinical data and our pilot observations suggest that exosomes-extracellular vesicles containing bioactive molecules such as miRNAs, proteins, and growth factors-play a crucial role in follicular development and may facilitate oocyte meiotic progression. Incorporating exosomes into IVF culture media could therefore represent a novel strategy to enhance in vitro maturation of MI oocytes and improve outcomes in this difficult-to-treat population.

Study Design and Methods:

The study will enroll 60 women aged 35 to 42 years, all meeting at least two Bologna criteria for poor ovarian response. Patients will undergo controlled ovarian stimulation with antagonist protocols and oocyte retrieval approximately 36-37 hours after hCG administration. Retrieved oocytes will be classified as MI or MII.

MI oocytes will be randomized on a per-patient basis into two groups:

Control group: MI oocytes cultured in pre-equilibrated Cook IVF media without additional supplementation.

Intervention group: MI oocytes cultured in the same media supplemented with 10 µg/well of GMP-certified exosomes (sourced from Exosmart or an equivalent validated supplier).

Oocytes will be monitored for progression from MI to MII at intervals up to 4 hours. Subsequent ICSI will be performed on matured oocytes, and resulting embryos will be cultured to blastocyst stage following standard laboratory protocols.

Outcomes:

The primary endpoint is the proportion of MI oocytes achieving maturation to MII within 4 hours of culture.

Secondary endpoints include fertilization rates (2PN formation), day 3 and blastocyst morphological grading, implantation rates, and clinical pregnancy rates per embryo transfer.

Statistical Considerations:

Data will be analyzed using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables such as maturation and fertilization rates. Logistic regression may be used to adjust for confounding factors such as patient age, baseline AMH, and gonadotropin dose. A p-value \<0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

Ethical Considerations:

All patients will provide written informed consent before participation. The study will be conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, local regulations, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines. The protocol will be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to initiation.

Potential Impact:

By investigating the role of exosome supplementation in improving the maturation of MI oocytes, this study seeks to expand the pool of usable oocytes in poor responder IVF cycles. This could translate to higher embryo availability, reduced cycle cancellations, and ultimately improved pregnancy outcomes in a patient group historically characterized by low success rates.

Conditions

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Poor Ovarian Response Female Infertility of Other Origin Oocyte Immaturity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

"Not applicable. No additional parties are masked in this trial."

Study Groups

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Ovarian Stimulation with MI Oocyte Allocation to Exosome vs. Standard Media

All participants undergo controlled ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval following a standard antagonist protocol. Retrieved MI oocytes from each patient are then allocated to two different in vitro culture conditions: (1) standard IVF media, and (2) IVF media supplemented with 10 µg of GMP-certified exosomes per well. This design allows within-patient comparison of oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development outcomes under the two culture environments.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exosome-Enriched IVF Culture

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

IVF culture media supplemented with 10 µg per well of GMP-certified exosomes (Exosmart or equivalent). Retrieved MI oocytes are cultured in this media for up to 4 hours to assess progression to MII.

Interventions

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Exosome-Enriched IVF Culture

IVF culture media supplemented with 10 µg per well of GMP-certified exosomes (Exosmart or equivalent). Retrieved MI oocytes are cultured in this media for up to 4 hours to assess progression to MII.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Women aged 35 to 42 years

Undergoing IVF with an antagonist protocol

Meet at least two Bologna criteria for poor ovarian response

Provide written informed consent -

Exclusion Criteria

Severe male factor infertility requiring surgical sperm retrieval

Known untreated hydrosalpinx

Uterine anomalies that impair implantation

Known chromosomal abnormalities

Participation in another investigational study within 3 months

Minimum Eligible Age

35 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No