3D‐Printed Biomimetic Scaffold Simulating Microfibril Muscle Structure

Abstract

In the human body, microfibril structures can be found in several types of tissue, such as muscles, nerves, and even tendons. However, most micropatterned fabrication methods have focused on 2D surface patterned configurations, which imitate the alignment and fusion of cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. Despite the development of these 2D methods, it has continued to be a challenge to fabricate realistic 3D microfibril structures. The goal of this study is to develop a micropatterned polycaprolactone (PCL) microfiber strut. This process uses a microfibrillation/leaching process of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) from a PVA/PCL mixture to imitate skeletal muscle cell alignment and fusion in vitro. To attain the optimal processing conditions, a variety of parameters-including a mixture ratio, processing temperature, and pneumatic pressure-are considered. To increase biocompatibility of a microfibrous PCL bundle, the fabricated structure is supplemented with type-I collagen. The myoblasts (C2C12 cells) are used to determine the cellular responses of the fabricated structure. By analyzing cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation, it can be confirmed that the hybrid microfibrillated structure can be an important potential platform to obtain efficient regeneration of muscle cells.

3D Bioprinting in Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering

“…Adapted with permission. [107] Copyright 2018, John Wiley and Sons. b) 3D printing of an ink made from a decellularized (mdECM) porcine skeletal muscle to promote myoblast differentiation.…”

“…Analysis of cells showed longitudinal cell alignment, good cell proliferation on the surface, high cell infiltration between the microfibers, and resulted in a scaffold section mimicking a muscle bundle section. MHC was also well developed . Furthermore, different bioinks have been used to promote cell survival, printability, and tissue formation.…”

“…a) Fabrication processes and optical/scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the hybrid microfibrillated PCL/collagen scaffold used to mimic skeletal muscle hierarchical organization. Adapted with permission . Copyright 2018, John Wiley and Sons.…”

“…• Aligned scaffolds were fabricated out of PVA/PCL (3:7 ratio). After leaching PVA, samples were coated with collagen • Micropatterned/fibrous PCL bundles guided C2C12 alignment Kim et al [107] FDM/DIW Muscle-derived ECM C2C12…”

“…MHC was also well developed. [107] Furthermore, different bioinks have been used to promote cell survival, printability, and tissue formation. Interface tissue engineering requires materials with different mechanical and chemical properties specific to the cell types in the different areas.…”