Aligned skeletal muscle assembly on a biofunctionalized plant leaf scaffold

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Decellularized plant scaffolds offer biocompatible, accessible platforms with unique microstructures for cell culture.
• Monocot leaves possess inherent uniaxial micropatterning ideal for promoting cell alignment and elongation.
• Plant-derived scaffolds require biofunctionalization to support mammalian cell adhesion and growth, especially in serum-free conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biofunctionalized plant leaf scaffold for culturing human cells, promoting alignment and differentiation.
• To investigate the potential of these scaffolds in creating functional skeletal muscle tissue.
• To evaluate the cell adhesion, growth, and myogenic differentiation on polymer-functionalized leaf substrates.

Main Methods:

• Monocot leaves were decellularized to create natural scaffolds.
• Scaffolds were biofunctionalized with a poly(PEGMEMA-r-VDM-r-GMA) copolymer to prevent protein adsorption and RGD peptide for cell adhesion.
• Human embryonic stem cell-derived muscle cells were cultured on the scaffolds, and their alignment, growth, differentiation, and contractile function were assessed.

Main Results:

• The biofunctionalized leaf scaffolds supported adhesion, growth, and parallel alignment of human muscle progenitor cells.
• Cells cultured on the scaffolds exhibited early myogenic differentiation and formed bundled myotube structures.
• The aligned myotubes demonstrated uniaxial muscle contraction upon chemical stimulation, indicating functional tissue development.

Conclusions:

• Polymer-functionalized plant leaf scaffolds provide a novel and effective platform for human cell culture.
• These scaffolds facilitate the development of aligned muscle tissue with contractile capabilities, suitable for tissue engineering.
• The natural microarchitecture of plant leaves, when biofunctionalized, holds significant potential for regenerative medicine applications.