3D bioprinting of skeletal muscle and neuromuscular junction tissue models

National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences

Investigators

Abstract

A collaboration between NCATS 3D-TBL and Dr. Michael Wards laboratory at NINDS began for developing neuromuscular junction model using iPSC derived myoblasts (iMyoblast) and motor neurons (iMotorNeurons). We selected a commercial platform by the company CurioBio that is a specialized instrument for measuring in vitro muscle contractility in a 24-well format. This special muscle contraction assay platform contains two pillars hanging from the top in the individual wells. iMyoblasts embedded bioink was printed surrounding the pillars, and myotube bundles were successfully developed and started to spontaneously contract until a full maturation. One of the two pillars is elastic where a magnet was attached at the end and the plate reader detects the magnetic field changes representing displacement between the pillars. With known mechanical properties of the materials of the pillars, contracting forces are calculated in real time and simultaneously from the entire 24 wells. Our team established a process to scale-up production of iMyoblast using automated tissue culture robots and a functional in vitro muscle model using bioprinting iPSC derived myoblasts, demonstrating muscle contracting response under electrical and acetylcholine stimulations. Using this skeletal muscle tissue model, in one direction, we are increasing the complexity of the assay by adding iMotorNeurons to study diseases of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) diseases and to find therapeutics.