Bioactive micropatterned platform to engineer myotube-like cells from stem cells

Skeletal muscle has the capacity to repair and heal itself after injury. However, this self-healing ability is diminished in the event of severe injuries and myopathies. In such conditions, stem cell-based regenerative treatments can play an important part in post-injury restoration. We herein report the development of a bioactive (integrin-beta(1) antibody immobilized) gold micropatterned platform to promote human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation into myotube-like cells. hMSCs grown on bioactive micropattern differentiated into myotube-like cells within two weeks. Furthermore, the up-regulation of myogenic markers, multi-nucleated state with continuous actin cytoskeleton and the absence of proliferation marker confirmed the formation of myotube-like cells on bioactive micropattern. The prominent expression of elongated integrin-beta(1) (ITG-beta(1)) focal adhesions and the development of anisotropic stress fibers in those differentiated cells elucidated their importance in stem cell myogenesis. Together, these findings delineate the synergistic role of engineered cell anisotropy and ITG-beta(1)-mediated signaling in the development of myotube-like cells from hMSCs.

Automated summary

The study developed a bioactive gold micropatterned platform to promote human mesenchymal stem cells’ differentiation into myotube-like cells. Results showed that stem cells grown on the bioactive micropattern differentiated into myotube-like cells within two weeks. These myotube-like cells exhibited elongated integrin-beta(1) focal adhesions and anisotropic stress fibers, highlighting the importance of engineered cell anisotropy and ITG-beta(1)-mediated signaling in stem cell myogenesis.