New Agarose Dishes Enhance IVF Embryo Selection

Researchers develop an optically "invisible" 3D microwell culture system for clearer embryo imaging.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a new type of "well-of-the-well" (WOW) dish for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) that uses agarose, a hydrogel material, to create a nearly optically "invisible" 3D microwell structure. This allows for sharper microscope imaging of embryos during the critical embryo selection process, without sacrificing the benefits of 3D microwell culture for healthier embryo development.

Why it matters

Selecting the healthiest embryo is crucial for IVF success, but current culture dishes with 3D microwells often distort microscope images, forcing embryologists to choose between clear visibility or a more natural growth environment for embryos. This new agarose-based dish design solves that tradeoff, potentially improving embryo selection accuracy and boosting IVF pregnancy rates.

The details

The researchers fabricated WOW dishes from agarose, a hydrogel material with a refractive index closely matching the culture medium. This minimizes optical distortions like blurred edges and visible ridges that plague traditional PDMS-based 3D microwell dishes. Optical tests confirmed the agarose dishes produced sharper, more accurate microscope images compared to PDMS. Mouse embryos also showed normal development when cultured in the new agarose dishes.

  • The research was published in February 2026 in the journal Biophotonics Discovery.

The players

Vanderbilt University

The research team that developed the new agarose-based 3D microwell culture dishes for IVF is based at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

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What’s next

The researchers plan to further validate the performance of the agarose dishes with human IVF embryos and work towards commercializing the technology to make it available to fertility clinics.

The takeaway

This new agarose-based 3D microwell culture dish design for IVF overcomes a longstanding tradeoff, allowing embryologists to see fine embryo details clearly while still providing a more natural growth environment. If adopted, it could lead to better embryo selection and higher IVF success rates for couples struggling with infertility.