Multiscale-Engineered Muscle Constructs: PEG Hydrogel Micro-Patterning on an Electrospun PCL Mat Functionalized with Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

The development of new, viable, and functional engineered tissue is a complex and challenging task. Skeletal muscle constructs have specific requirements as cells are sensitive to the stiffness, geometry of the materials, and biological micro-environment. The aim of this study was thus to design and characterize a multi-scale scaffold and to evaluate it regarding the differentiation process of C2C12 skeletal myoblasts. The significance of the work lies in the microfabrication of lines of polyethylene glycol, on poly(-caprolactone) nanofiber sheets obtained using the electrospinning process, coated or not with gold nanoparticles to act as a potential substrate for electrical stimulation. The differentiation of C2C12 cells was studied over a period of seven days and quantified through both expression of specific genes, and analysis of the myotubes’ alignment and length using confocal microscopy. We demonstrated that our multiscale bio-construct presented tunable mechanical properties and supported the different stages skeletal muscle,as well as improving the parallel orientation of the myotubes with a variation of less than 15°. These scaffolds showed the ability of sustained myogenic differentiation by enhancing the organization of reconstructed skeletal muscle. Moreover, they may be suitable for applications in mechanical and electrical stimulation to mimic the muscle’s physiological functions.

Leveraging Biomaterial Platforms to Study Aging-Related Neural and Muscular Degeneration

“…Such techniques include micropatterning, 3D bioprinting, and electrospinning [263]. Micropatterning techniques such as soft lithography, photolithography, or hot embossing lithography have been used to investigate the effect of different topographies such as grooves, ridges, channels, or posts on cell arrangement and function [264,265]. Charest and colleagues made use of hot embossing lithography to generate different micropatterns, such as grooves, ridges, and holes, with different sizes.…”

Additive Manufacturing and Physicomechanical Characteristics of PEGDA Hydrogels: Recent Advances and Perspective for Tissue Engineering

“…As discussed previously, PEGDA hydrogel has been used for various applications within the field of tissue engineering [ 37 , 209 , 210 ]. In the area of organ-on-chip devices, it has been tested for 3D cell culture platforms such as skeletal muscle microtissues (SMT) [ 211 , 212 , 213 ]. Designing functional in vitro SMT involves two crucial elements: scaffold architecture and functionality.…”

Emerging Technology of Nanofiber‐Composite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

“…Beldjilali-Labro et al developed aligned PCL nanofiber via electrospinning with a rotating drum collector and coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNP). [88] AuNP-PCL nanofibers were then micropatterned on PEG hydrogel to facilitate the myogenic differentiation of cultured C2C12 myoblasts. The directional elongation, myotube formation, and expression of characteristic markers (e.g., myf4, IGF-I/II, URB5, and MyHCemb) all indicated that the aligned AuNP-PCL nanofibers on PEG hydrogel promoted the myogenic differentiation.…”