Current opportunities and challenges in skeletal muscle tissue engineering

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to give a concise review of the current state of the art in tissue engineering (TE) of skeletal muscle and the opportunities and challenges for future clinical applicability. The endogenous progenitor cells of skeletal muscle, i.e. satellite cells, show a high proneness to muscular differentiation, in particular exhibiting the same characteristics and function as its donor muscle. This suggests that it is important to use an appropriate progenitor cell, especially in TE facial muscles, which have a exceptional anatomical and fibre composition compared to other skeletal muscle. Muscle TE requires an instructive scaffold for structural support and to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of muscle progenitor cells. Current literature suggests that optimal scaffolding could comprise of a fibrin gel and cultured monolayers of muscle satellite cells obtained through the cell sheet technique. Tissue-engineered muscle constructs require an adequate connection to the vascular system for efficient transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and waste products. Finally, functional and clinically applicable muscle constructs depend on adequate neuromuscular junctions with neural cells. To reach this, it seems important to apply optimal electrical, chemotropic and mechanical stimulation during engineering and discover other factors that influence its formation. Thus, in addition to approaches for myogenesis, we discuss the current status of strategies for angiogenesis and neurogenesis of TE muscle constructs and the significance for future clinical use.

Anisotropically oriented electrospun matrices with an imprinted periodic micropattern: a new scaffold for engineered muscle constructs

“…Engineered muscle constructs, composed of an adequate scaffold and autologous muscle cells represent a promising treatment for patients with either irreversible skeletal muscle damage or insufficient intrinsic muscle repair capacity (Koning et al 2009, Rossi et al 2010. The design of a tissue-specific scaffold, however, faces numerous challenges related to material choice and processing.…”

Fast-Degradable Microbeads Encapsulating Human Umbilical Cord Stem Cells in Alginate for Muscle Tissue Engineering

“…Alginate was selected as an encapsulating gel because it is biocompatible and can form a crosslinked gel under mild conditions without significantly harming the cells. [19][20][21] While the present study used alginate as a model system to investigate hUCMSC delivery and the effects of RGD and microbeads on myogenic differentiation, it should be noted that other systems, such as fibrin, 22 collagen, 23 and synthetic scaffolds, 3,[24][25][26] are also promising for tissue engineering applications. The AM was used because a pile of microbeads without this matrix to bond them together would not be able to maintain the shape and contour of the defect.…”

“…Muscle tissue engineering with the use of stem cells and scaffolds is a promising approach to solving this problem. [1][2][3][4] Autologous muscle satellite cells located in mature muscles and indicated as a heterogeneous population of committed myogenic and uncommitted progenitors have been used for muscle regeneration 3,5 ; however, obtaining these cells is invasive and their purification is difficult. Moreover, these cells have a relatively low expansion capability with limited quantity, and these factors are problematic for the repair of large muscle defects.…”

Cartilage and facial muscle tissue engineering and regeneration: a mini review

“…In addition to this, their biological characteristics must also be taken into consideration in regard to their specific form and function as well. Although non-biodegradable scaffolds are considered to be optimal by some, biodegradable scaffolds are much more practical in regard to facial muscle tissue and repair due to the fact that their degradation allows for the natural muscular ECM to be almost exactly remodeled [77]. Although many polymers have been used in the creation of synthetic biodegradable 3-D scaffolds, the most useful polymer seems to be polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) [78].…”