Myotube assembly on nanofibrous and micropatterned polymers

Nano Lett. 2006 Mar;6(3):537-42. doi: 10.1021/nl060060o.

Abstract

Skeletal muscle consists of parallel bundles of myotubes formed by the fusion of myoblasts. We fabricated nanofibrous and micropatterned polymers as cell culture substrates to guide the morphogenesis of muscular tissue. The nanoscale and microscale topographic features regulate cell and cytoskeleton alignment, myotube assembly, myotube striation, and myoblast proliferation. This bottom-up approach from nanoscale to tissue level demonstrates the potential of nanofibrous polymers for engineering the assembly of cell and tissue structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / ultrastructure
  • Myoblasts / cytology
  • Myoblasts / metabolism
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*

Substances

  • Polymers