Enhanced growth and differentiation of myoblast cells grown on E-jet 3D printed platforms

Abstract

Background

Skeletal muscle tissue engineering often involves the prefabrication of muscle tissues in vitro by differentiation and maturation of muscle precursor cells on a platform which provides an environment that facilitates the myogenic differentiation of the seeded cells.

Methods

Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) 3D printed scaffolds, which simulate the highly complex structure of extracellular matrix (ECM), were fabricated by E-jet 3D printing in this study. The scaffolds were used as platforms, providing environment that aids in growth, differentiation and other properties of C2C12 myoblast cells.

Results

The C2C12 myoblast cells grown on the PLGA 3D printed platforms had enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. Moreover, the platforms were able to induce myogenic differentiation of the myoblast cells by promoting the formation of myotubes and up-regulating the expressions of myogenic genes (MyHC and MyOG).

Conclusion

The fabricated 3D printed platforms have excellent biocompatibility, thereby can potentially be used as functional cell culture platforms in skeletal tissue engineering and regeneration.

Keywords:

• myoblast
• myogenic differentiation
• 3D printing
• 3D cell culture
• skeletal muscle regeneration

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No 31600782), the Science and Technology Research and Development Foundation of Shenzhen (No JCYJ20170818112151323), and the Hunan University (No 53112102).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.