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Zinc oxide-curcumin nanoparticles supplementation during oocyte maturation improves bovine in vitro embryo production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2025

Luisa Miglio ,
Muller Carrara Martins ,
Serena Mares Malta ,
Renner Mateus Francisco Duarte ,
Marco Aurélio Schiavo Novaes ,
Laritza Ferreira de Lima ,
Tatiane Moraes Arantes ,
Rayssa de Souza Lopes ,
Kele Amaral Alves  and
Marcelo Emílio Beletti
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Luisa Miglio
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocyte and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Muller Carrara Martins
Affiliation:
Laboratory Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, Brazil
Serena Mares Malta
Affiliation:
Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, Brazil
Renner Mateus Francisco Duarte
Affiliation:
Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, Brazil
Marco Aurélio Schiavo Novaes
Affiliation:
Federal Rural University of the Amaz on, Paragominas, PA, Brazil
Laritza Ferreira de Lima
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocyte and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Tatiane Moraes Arantes
Affiliation:
Federal University of Jataí-UFJ, Jatai, Brazil
Rayssa de Souza Lopes
Affiliation:
Federal University of Jataí-UFJ, Jatai, Brazil
Kele Amaral Alves
Affiliation:
Conception Biosciences Inc. Berkeley, CA, USA
Marcelo Emílio Beletti
Affiliation:
Laboratory Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, Brazil
Foued Salmen Espíndola
Affiliation:
Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, Brazil
José Ricardo de Figueiredo*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocyte and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA), State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: José Ricardo de Figueiredo; Email: jrf.lamofopapapers@gmail.com
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Abstract

This work investigated the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles functionalized with curcumin (ZnO(np)+CUR) supplementation during the in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes on the in vitro embryo production and the cellular antioxidant response. A total of 1,625 cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in the maturation medium in the absence (0 µM - control) or presence of different concentrations of ZnO(np)+CUR (3 µM, 6 µM or 12 µM). After IVM, COCs were destined either to 1) in vitro embryo production or 2) analysis of reactive oxygen species production, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and total antioxidant capacity (FRAP). The results demonstrated that the addition of 6 and 12 µM ZnO(np)+CUR during in vitro maturation showed a higher rate of blastocyst production when compared to the control (p < 0.05). However, only 12 µM ZnO(np)+CUR treatment showed higher rates of embryo production when compared to 3µM ZnO(np)+CUR treatment. Supplementation of IVM medium with 6 µM ZnO(np)+CUR reduced ROS production (p < 0.05) compared to control and 12 µM ZnO(np)+CUR treatments. Also, the treatment containing ZnO(np)+CUR at 12 µM had lower SOD activity after IVM than control treatment. In conclusion, the best outcome for in vitro embryo production was obtained when 6 and 12 µM ZnO(np)+CUR was added during IVM of bovine oocytes. However, this improvement in in vitro embryo production was not associated with either the reduction of ROS production or SOD and CAT activities.

Keywords

Zinc oxide nanoparticlesCurcuminIn vitro embryo productionbovineantioxidant

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Research Article
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Zygote , First View , pp. 1 - 6
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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