Antioxidant effects and compatibility of zinc oxide nanoparticles during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes and subsequent embryo development

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have garnered significant attention in biological applications due to their known antioxidant properties. However, their potential impact on assisted reproduction techniques remains largely unexplored, particularly in the context of oocyte quality maintenance within in vitro culture systems, where free radicals can exert detrimental effects. This study investigated the effects of incorporating ZnO-NPs to in vitro maturation (IVM) media on the developmental, cryosurvival, and metabolic profiles of bovine embryos. Three concentrations of ZnO-NPs (0, 1.0, and 1.5 μg/mL) were evaluated. We observed, for the first time, that the inclusion of ZnO-NPs at a concentration of 1.0 μg/mL led to a significant increase in the number of embryonic cells (p < 0.05) accompanied by a reduction in reactive oxygen species production (p < 0.05). Notably, ZnO-NPs did not alter embryonic development, cryosurvival rates, or mitochondrial viability. These findings suggested that ZnO-NPs has antioxidant properties and are compatible with bovine oocytes. Consequently, they may serve as promising supplements to the IVM media, potentially enhancing the efficiency of assisted reproduction techniques.