Generation of Polystyrenes Bead Charges for Separating Charged Particles

The global demand for efficient livestock production has driven advancements in reproductive technologies, particularly sperm sexing, which enables pre-selection of offspring sex for economic optimization in dairy and beef industries. Despite its benefits, current sperm sexing methods face limitations such as high costs, procedural complexity, and reduced sperm viability. This study introduces polystyrene (PS) beads coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silver oxide (AgO) as a novel platform for separating $X$ and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm based on charge differentials. The fabrication process involves sputtering and plasma treatment to create charge-modified beads, validated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). A microfluidic device was developed to test separation efficiency, achieving 82.18% for TiO2-coated beads and 79.92% for AgO-coated beads. This innovative approach is scalable, cost-effective, and non-invasive, while preserving sperm quality, offering a promising alternative to conventional methods. The findings hold potential to revolutionize cattle reproduction practices, aligning with modern agricultural demands for sustainability and productivity.