The researchers published their preliminary results in the January issue of the journal Nano Letters.
Spermbots have a long way to go before they're ready for clinical use, though. The researchers note that the materials used in the metal coil "are not overly harmful to sperm cells," but much more testing is needed before they can be deemed safe and effective enough for patients.
Today's infertility treatments, which include artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF), aren't that reliable. The study notes that artificial insemination only works about 30% of the time. The numbers are roughly the same per round of IVF (with highly variable success depending on age and other factors), but that process is much more invasive and costs an average of $12,400, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.