Sperm cryopreservation is a key technology in reproductive medicine, providing patients the possibility to retain viability before medical interventions or age-related decline. Despite its clinical significance, current cryopreservation procedures suffer substantial limits due to cryoinjury, most notably from intracellular ice formation, osmotic imbalance, membrane instability, and oxidative damage. These conditions significantly affect sperm motility, viability, and genetic integrity post-thaw. To overcome these problems, recent breakthroughs have focused on merging nanotechnology and smart biomaterial science to produce next generation cryoprotectants and preservation systems. Nanoengineered cryoprotectants comprising customized nanomaterials such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and biologically derived exosomes have shown improved membrane protection, effective antioxidant delivery, and reduction of ice nucleation compared to traditional agents. Early preclinical tests reveal that these alterations considerably enhance post-thaw sperm sustainability, minimize DNA fragmentation, and sustain functional ability for fertilization. Moreover, the combination of individualized cryopreservation protocols leveraging microfluidic technology and embedded biosensors allows unprecedented control and real-time monitoring of cryopreservation quality suited to unique patient demands. Despite these gains, further study into nanotoxicity, long-term safety, and regulatory standards is necessary before widespread clinical adoption. Collectively, nanoengineered cryoprotectants and smart biomaterials constitute a promising new frontier, seeking to enhance male fertility preservation with higher efficiency, safety, and tailored solutions.
As et al. (Fri,) studied this question.