Enhanced Myogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells via Integration of 3D Bioprinting and In Situ Shear-Based Blade Coating

Conventional treatments for volumetric muscle loss (VML) encounter limitations, such as donor site constraints and exploration of tissue engineering methods. Here, the fabrication of human adipose stem cell (hASC)-laden cell constructs are proposed using a 3D bioprinting technique supported by blade casting. This process induces mechanotransduction to activate stem cell activities, including proliferation and myogenic differentiation. The printing conditions are optimized by assessing the effects of various process parameters on mechanotransduction signaling pathways. Notably, blade-assisted bioprinting under carefully selected parameters enhanced the in vitro myogenic activity of the fabricated hASC constructs. Moreover, in vivo evaluation in mice with VML defects demonstrate that shear-induced bioconstructs effectively restored lost functionalities and muscle volume compared to those of normally bioprinted cell constructs. The results show the potential of integrating bioprinting with hASC-based therapies to enhance muscle regeneration and functional recovery, offering a meaningful platform for future tissue engineering approaches for VML treatment.