Comparison of the effect of adding different levels of selenium nanoparticles doped with zinc oxide nanoparticles, and selenium nanoparticles doped with zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with Resveratrol on post-thawing quality of ram semen

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can potentially cause harm to sperm following cryopreservation. The primary defense against this oxidative damage is antioxidants. One powerful antioxidant is resveratrol (Res), a stilbenoid that belongs to the family of natural phenols and polyphenols. Res is found in various foods, including mulberries, blueberries, raspberries, and grape skins. Antioxidants are essential for protecting sperm because free radicals negatively impact oxidative stress processes. However, the effectiveness of Res is limited due to its poor bioavailability. To address this limitation, loading strategies that utilize nanoparticles and nanotechnology can be employed. In this study, barberry extract was used to create selenium nanoparticles doped with zinc oxide nanoparticles (NSe-do-NZn), which were then coated with Res (NSe-do-NZn-co-Res). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), zeta potential analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were among the tests used to validate the production of nanoparticles. This study aims to investigate the effects of Res-coated NSe-do-NZn on ram sperm parameters after the thawing. Following thawing, various sperm parameters were assessed, including malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, total motility, viability, plasma membrane, DNA integrity, and abnormalities. The results showed that the addition of 5 μg/ml of NSe-do-NZn-co-Res significantly enhanced sperm survival and total motility during thawing compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, this treatment notably improved the percentage of DNA integrity and cell membrane functionality compared to other groups, except for the group receiving 5 μg/ml NSe-do-NZn and the 25 μg/ml Res group (P < 0.05). Similar trends were observed for the reduction in MDA levels and sperm abnormalities. The most significant outcomes were associated with the use of resveratrol coated onto NSe-do-NZn.