Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Current biomaterial strategies are typically unable to return skeletal muscle to pre-injury function following damage, resulting in permanent loss of muscle function. Recently, there has been a growing appreciation for the role of matrix viscoelasticity in regenerative processes, and here we address the hypothesis that changes in matrix viscoelasticity regulate muscle cell function. Using norbornene-modified type I collagen hydrogels with a tetrazine-based crosslinker, it is found that myoblast spreading, proliferation, and differentiation are improved on and within slow-relaxing hydrogels. However, satellite cell stemness is maintained only with soft, fast-relaxing hydrogels. This indicates that there is a direct link between the viscoelasticity of collagen-based substrates and muscle cell phenotype in vitro. Together, these studies further the understanding of the role of tissue mechanical properties in directing muscle cell function and provide a tool for guiding specific behaviors necessary for muscle regeneration.
Source: Advanced Healthcare Materials
Authors: Emily B. Roloson, Wei‐Hung Jung, Stephanie L. McNamara, Catherine L. Van Stone, Nuria Lafuente‐Gómez, Duncan M. Morgan, Rebecca M. Gibbs, Lee L. Rubin, Georg N. Duda, David J. Mooney
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Medicine
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Science Foundation, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation, Harvard University, CRIS Cancer Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Division of Materials Research
OpenAlex ID: W4414487090