The robust capacity of skeletal muscle stem cells (SkMSCs, or satellite cells) to regenerate into new muscles
in vivo
has offered promising therapeutic options for the treatment of degenerative muscle diseases. However, the practical use of SkMSCs to treat muscle diseases is limited, owing to their inability to expand
in vitro
under defined cultivation conditions without loss of engraftment efficiency. To develop an optimal cultivation condition for SkMSCs, we investigated the behavior of SkMSCs on synthetic maltose-binding protein (MBP)-fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)-immobilized matrix
in vitro
. We found that the chemically well-defined, xeno-free MBP-FGF2-immobilized matrix effectively supports SkMSC growth without reducing their differentiation potential
in vitro
. Our data highlights the possible application of the MBP-FGF2 matrix for SkMSC expansion
in vitro
.
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