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Extrusion-Based Printing of Myoblast-Loaded Fibrin Microthreads to Induce Myogenesis
Hanson S Lee1, Bryanna L Samolyk1, George D Pins1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA.
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
|January 24, 2025
Summary
Scientists developed novel bioprinted muscle threads (myothreads) to improve skeletal muscle regeneration after volumetric muscle loss (VML) injuries. This biofabrication strategy enhances cell alignment and myotube formation, offering a scalable platform for VML treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Volumetric muscle loss (VML) injuries severely impair skeletal muscle regeneration by disrupting native tissue cues.
- Current biofabrication methods struggle to create scalable engineered tissues with mechanical stability and spatiotemporal signaling for functional muscle repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel biofabrication strategy for creating multifunctional, cell-laden microthreads (myothreads) for enhanced skeletal muscle regeneration.
- To investigate the impact of cell-loading density and culture time on myoblast behavior and myotube formation within these engineered constructs.
Main Methods:
- Bioprinting of myoblast-loaded fibrin microthreads (myothreads).
- Characterization of myoblast alignment, myotube formation, and tensile properties.
- Evaluation of constructs based on varying cell-loading densities and culture durations.
Main Results:
- Increased myoblast loading density significantly enhanced myotube formation.
- The bioprinting process inherently promoted myoblast alignment within the microthreads.
- Tensile characterizations indicated that myothreads possess sufficient structural stability for potential scaffold applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed myothread biofabrication approach effectively recapitulates cellular microniches, driving myogenesis and aligned myotube formation.
- This strategy provides a scalable platform for investigating biophysical and biochemical cues to advance functional skeletal muscle regeneration for VML treatment.
