Bioengineering muscle constructs using 3d printed micro- and ultra-fine fibers

Abstract

Provided are ultrafine-fiber or microfiber scaffolds including a plurality of wall fibers and a plurality of reinforcing fibers, each reinforcing fiber including at least two (such as at least four) anchor segments and at least one (such as at least three) bridge segment, wherein: the wall fibers and the anchor segments are substantially aligned forming a plurality of walls, and the bridge segments each extend across the space between any two adjacent walls. Further provided are methods of producing an ultrafine-fiber or microfiber scaffold by electrohydrodynamic printing (EHD), including jetting along a first straight jetting path that is offset relative to the wall fiber direction at angle of less than 90°. Also provided are methods of culturing cells, forming tissues, and treating an injury using the disclosed scaffolds and compositions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.