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Minne M, Terrie L, Wüst R, Hasevoets S, Vanden Kerchove K, Nimako K, Lambrichts I, Thorrez L, Declercq H. Generating human skeletal myoblast spheroids for vascular myogenic tissue engineering. Biofabrication 2024; 16:025035. [PMID: 38437715 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad2fd5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Engineered myogenic microtissues derived from human skeletal myoblasts offer unique opportunities for varying skeletal muscle tissue engineering applications, such asin vitrodrug-testing and disease modelling. However, more complex models require the incorporation of vascular structures, which remains to be challenging. In this study, myogenic spheroids were generated using a high-throughput, non-adhesive micropatterned surface. Since monoculture spheroids containing human skeletal myoblasts were unable to remain their integrity, co-culture spheroids combining human skeletal myoblasts and human adipose-derived stem cells were created. When using the optimal ratio, uniform and viable spheroids with enhanced myogenic properties were achieved. Applying a pre-vascularization strategy, through addition of endothelial cells, resulted in the formation of spheroids containing capillary-like networks, lumina and collagen in the extracellular matrix, whilst retaining myogenicity. Moreover, sprouting of endothelial cells from the spheroids when encapsulated in fibrin was allowed. The possibility of spheroids, from different maturation stages, to assemble into a more large construct was proven by doublet fusion experiments. The relevance of using three-dimensional microtissues with tissue-specific microarchitecture and increased complexity, together with the high-throughput generation approach, makes the generated spheroids a suitable tool forin vitrodrug-testing and human disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mendy Minne
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Lisanne Terrie
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Rebecca Wüst
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Steffie Hasevoets
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Kato Vanden Kerchove
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Kakra Nimako
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Ivo Lambrichts
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Lieven Thorrez
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Heidi Declercq
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven campus KULAK, Kortrijk, Belgium
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Johnson N, Filler AC, Sethi A, Smith LR, Leach JK. Skeletal Muscle Spheroids as Building Blocks for Engineered Muscle Tissue. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:497-506. [PMID: 38113146 PMCID: PMC10777344 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Spheroids exhibit enhanced cell-cell interactions that facilitate improved survival and mimic the physiological cellular environment in vivo. Cell spheroids have been successfully used as building blocks for engineered tissues, yet the viability of this approach with skeletal muscle spheroids is poorly understood, particularly when incorporated into three-dimensional (3D) constructs. Bioprinting is a promising strategy to recapitulate the hierarchical organization of native tissue that is fundamental to its function. However, the influence of bioprinting on skeletal muscle cell spheroids and their function are yet to be interrogated. Using C2C12 mouse myoblasts and primary bovine muscle stem cells (MuSCs), we characterized spheroid formation as a function of duration and cell seeding density. We then investigated the potential of skeletal muscle spheroids entrapped in alginate bioink as tissue building blocks for bioprinting myogenic tissue. Both C2C12 and primary bovine MuSCs formed spheroids of similar sizes and remained viable after bioprinting. Spheroids of both cell types fused into larger tissue clusters over time within alginate and exhibited tissue formation comparable to monodisperse cells. Compared to monodisperse cells in alginate gels, C2C12 spheroids exhibited greater MyHC expression after 2 weeks, while cells within bovine MuSC spheroids displayed increased cell spreading. Both monodisperse and MuSC spheroids exhibited increased expression of genes denoting mid- and late-stage myogenic differentiation. Together, these data suggest that skeletal muscle spheroids have the potential for generating myogenic tissue via 3D bioprinting and reveal areas of research that could enhance myogenesis and myogenic differentiation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Johnson
- Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, California 95817, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Andrea C. Filler
- Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, California 95817, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Akash Sethi
- Department
of Molecular and Cellular Biology, UC Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Lucas R. Smith
- Department
of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, UC Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - J. Kent Leach
- Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, California 95817, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
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Muthuramalingam K, Lee HJ. Effect of GelMA Hydrogel Properties on Long-Term Encapsulation and Myogenic Differentiation of C 2C 12 Spheroids. Gels 2023; 9:925. [PMID: 38131911 PMCID: PMC10743132 DOI: 10.3390/gels9120925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle regeneration and engineering hold great promise for the treatment of various muscle-related pathologies and injuries. This research explores the use of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels as a critical component for encapsulating cellular spheroids in the context of muscle tissue engineering and regenerative applications. The preparation of GelMA hydrogels at various concentrations, ranging from 5% to 15%, was characterized and correlated with their mechanical stiffness. The storage modulus was quantified and correlated with GelMA concentration: 6.01 ± 1.02 Pa (5% GelMA), 75.78 ± 6.67 Pa (10% GelMA), and 134.69 ± 7.93 Pa (15% GelMA). In particular, the mechanical properties and swelling capacity of GelMA hydrogels were identified as key determinants affecting cell sprouting and migration from C2C12 spheroids. The controlled balance between these factors was found to significantly enhance the differentiation and functionality of the encapsulated spheroids. Our results highlight the critical role of GelMA hydrogels in orchestrating cellular dynamics and processes within a 3D microenvironment. The study demonstrates that these hydrogels provide a promising scaffold for the long-term encapsulation of spheroids while maintaining high biocompatibility. This research provides valuable insights into the design and use of GelMA hydrogels for improved muscle tissue engineering and regenerative applications, paving the way for innovative approaches to muscle tissue repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hyun Jong Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Seongnam-si 13120, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
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