Towards an In Vitro Skeletal Muscle Model via FLight Bioprinting of Thiol-Ene Gelatin Hydrogels

Details

Supervisors

Van Ruymbeke, Evelyne ; Van Vlierberghe Sandra

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil biomédical, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

Skeletal muscle tissue engineering is a growing field that seeks to regenerate muscle lost due to traumatic injury, surgery, or degenerative diseases. A major challenge remains the replication of the hierachical and anisotropic architecture of native muscle, which consists of aligned fibers. To address this, emerging biofabrication techniques aim to recreate such structural organization. In this study, we explore the use of Filamented Light (FLight) biofabrication, a volumetric bioprinting strategy, to fabricate cell-laden hydrogel constructs designed to guide cell alignment. We evaluate both the physicochemical properties of these constructs and their ability to support cell elongation and orientation. Overall, these findings contribute to the development of optimized scaffolds for functional skeletal muscle regeneration.