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Surface-Patterned Silicon Oxynitride for Aligned Myotubes and Neurite Outgrowth In Vitro
Kamal Awad1,2, Matthew Fiedler1, Ahmed S Yacoub1
1Bone-Muscle Research Center, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA.
Tissue Engineering. Part A
|April 24, 2025
Summary
Novel silicon oxynitride scaffolds promote muscle and nerve regeneration after injury. These bioactive materials enhance cell growth and alignment, offering a promising solution for volumetric muscle loss and nerve damage repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Traumatic injuries cause volumetric muscle loss (VML) and nerve damage, leading to chronic functional deficits.
- Mammalian skeletal muscle regeneration is limited, necessitating engineered solutions for functional restoration.
- Existing engineered scaffolds have shown limited success in fully restoring function after VML.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce novel bioactive amorphous silicon oxynitride (SiONx) biomaterials for enhanced muscle and nerve regeneration.
- To investigate the effect of SiONx surface properties and Si ion release on myogenesis and neurogenesis.
- To evaluate the potential of micropatterned SiONx scaffolds for functional tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Micropatterned SiONx scaffolds were fabricated using UV photolithography and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD).
- Material characterization included X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
- C2C12 myoblasts and NG108 neuronal cells were cultured on SiONx scaffolds and treated with Si ions to assess cell response.
Main Results:
- SiONx scaffolds exhibited a uniform amorphous structure and a 2 μm grating microstructure suitable for cell interactions.
- Enhanced C2C12 myoblast attachment, proliferation, and alignment were observed on SiONx surfaces.
- Significant increases in GAP43 expression, neurite outgrowth, and alignment of myotubes and axons parallel to the scaffolds were noted.
Conclusions:
- Amorphous silicon oxynitride (SiONx) biomaterials promote muscle and nerve cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation.
- Micropatterned SiONx scaffolds facilitate the formation of aligned myotubes and axons, crucial for functional tissue regeneration.
- These findings highlight SiONx as a promising material for addressing volumetric muscle loss and nerve damage.
