Grooved PLGA films incorporated with RGD/YIGSR peptides for potential application on skeletal muscle tissue engineering

Alignment of myocytes or myotubes is critical for skeletal muscle tissue engineering. In this study, grooved PLGA films (800 nm in width of ridge/groove and 600 nm in depth) incorporated with RGD or YIGSR peptides were fabricated to evaluate its efficacy for skeletal muscle tissue engineering. The growth and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts were enhanced by the presentation of RGD or YIGSR compared with the untreated PLGA control. On the other hand, cell morphology was guided by the grooved structure, i.e. alignment of myoblasts and myotubes with the direction of grooves. This study elucidates the effects of both surface biochemical and topographic cues on the proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts on biodegradable polymer films. Combination of surface topography and peptide presentation has a great potential in designing scaffolds for skeletal muscle tissue engineering.