IP Library › Granted Patent US 12674182
Granted Patent B2
US 12674182 · App. 17/801,406 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Methods and compositions for use of mitochondrial therapies to improve female reproductive potential

Inventors: Jonathan L. Tilly (Windham, NH); Dori Woods (Londonderry, NH)
Assignee: Northeastern University
C12N15/873C12N5/0609G01N33/502
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674182
App. No.
17/801,406
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are methods for increasing the fertilization rate of an oocyte in a granulosa cell-oocyte complex, and/or the success rate of in-vitro fertilization by using mitochondrial therapies. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for fertility treatment.

Claims (19)

1 . A method of increasing the fertilization rate of an oocyte, wherein the oocyte is in a granulosa cell-oocyte complex, the method comprising transferring a composition of mitochondria into the granulosa cells, wherein the transferred mitochondria have a higher mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) than the mitochondria in the granulosa cells.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are derived from an autologous or allogeneic cell.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the autologous or allogeneic cell is a granulosa cell.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the autologous or allogeneic cell is a cumulus cell.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are transferred by incubating the autologous or allogeneic cell with the granulosa cell-oocyte complex.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are derived from a stem cell or a progenitor cell.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the stem cell or the progenitor cell is an embryonic stem cell, induced pluripotent stem cell, bone marrow-derived stem or progenitor cell, blood-derived stem or progenitor cell, mesenchymal stem cell, or germline stem or progenitor cell.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are prepared using density gradient separation.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are prepared using differential centrifugation.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are prepared using flow cytometry.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition of mitochondria comprises at least 50%, at least 70%, or at least 90% mitochondria with higher mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) than the mitochondria in the granulosa cells.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are transferred ex vivo.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are transferred in vivo.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are transferred in vitro.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferred mitochondria are transferred by vesicle-mediated transfer.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition of mitochondria comprises at least 500 mitochondria, at least 2,500 mitochondria, or at least 5,000 mitochondria.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oocyte is from a human subject.

18 . A method of in vitro fertilization, the method comprising incubating a composition of mitochondria with granulosa cells, wherein the granulosa cells are in a granulosa cell-oocyte complex; and fertilizing the oocyte in vitro to form a zygote, wherein the incubated mitochondria have a higher mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) than the mitochondria in the granulosa cells.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the incubated mitochondria are derived from an autologous or allogeneic cell.