Sofía Del Salto

Doktorandin

Biofabrication using alginate based composite bioinks functionalized with therapeutic ions for muscle tissue engineering

Supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr. h. c. mult. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Skeletal muscle possesses an intrinsic regenerative capacity; however, this ability is compromised following volumetric muscle loss, degenerative disorders, and aging [1]. Current reconstructive strategies, including autologous tissue grafting, are constrained by limited donor tissue availability, donor-site morbidity, and incomplete functional restoration [2]. Consequently, biofabrication has emerged as a promising tissue engineering strategy, enabling the generation of cell-laden constructs that recapitulate the native muscle microenvironment through the use of hydrogels and ionic medicine [3]. In this project, a biofabricated skeletal muscle model will be developed using composite alginate dialdehyde-based hydrogels functionalized with therapeutic ions. By tailoring the hydrogel’s mechanical and biological properties, this study aims to enhance myoblast viability, proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenic potential, ultimately promoting the formation of functional skeletal muscle tissue. The project is part of the Collaborative Research Center TRR 225 ‚From the fundamentals of biofabrication towards functional tissue models‘ (https://trr225biofab.de/) and it is carried out in collaboration with colleagues at University of Bayreuth: Prof. Sahar Salehi-Müller, Prof. Elisabetta Cavalcanti-Adam and Prof. Frank Döpper.

[1] P. Sousa-Victor, L. García-Prat, and P. Muñoz-Cánoves, ‚Control of satellite cell function in muscle regeneration and its disruption in ageing‘, Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol., vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 204–226, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1038/s41580-021-00421-2.

[2] M. Shayan and N. F. Huang, ‚Pre-Clinical Cell Therapeutic Approaches for Repair of Volumetric Muscle Loss‘, Bioengineering, vol. 7, no. 3, p. 97, Sep. 2020, doi: 10.3390/bioengineering7030097.

[3] H.-H. Lu et al., ‚Printable ADA-GEL-based composite inks containing Zn-doped bioactive inorganic fillers for skeletal muscle biofabrication‘, Biomater. Adv., vol. 172, p. 214233, Jul. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2025.214233.