Know about the breakthrough in muscle regeneration using nanoparticle scaffolds
A major medical procedure for treating volumetric muscle loss (VML), a disorder in which the body is unable to regenerate enough muscle tissue to sustain itself, is tissue engineering. This procedure uses scaffolds or grafts to promote cell regeneration.
MXene NPs are two-dimensional materials predominantly consisting of nitride and transition-metal carbides. They have intricate structures that encourage cell connections and muscle growth, are extremely electrically conductive, and can hold a variety of functional groups.
To identify the genes and biochemical pathways that MXene NPs induce to promote muscle regeneration, they employed DNA sequencing. The group first synthesised a nanofibrous PCM matrix with poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (P), which was then reinforced with Ti3C2Tx MXene nanoparticles (M) and collagen ©. The researchers developed three controls: pristine PLCL (P), PLCL with Collagen (PC), and PLCL with MXene (PM) in order to ascertain the precise impact of MXene NPs on muscle growth. When the researchers tested all the scaffolds on mouse models with induced volumetric muscle atrophy, they found that the PCM-treated mice had a significantly higher total number of muscle cells than the other groups.
The researchers grew muscle cell precursors, or C2C12 myoblasts, onto PC and PCM matrices in order to study the molecular effects of MXene nanoparticles (NPs) on muscle growth and regeneration. Analysing the variations in gene expression levels between the two matrices was the goal. Increased levels of serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), two proteins intimately linked to calcium signalling and muscle regeneration, were found in the PCM matrix.
These findings imply that MXenes encourage the accumulation of calcium ions (Ca2+) surrounding cells. Genes that produce the proteins SGK1 and iNOS are activated by these elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels. The mTOR-AKT pathway is influenced by SGK1, which enhances cell survival, proliferation, and myogenesis — the process by which myoblasts become muscle fibres. Concomitantly, iNOS promotes nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, which aids in myoblast growth and the fusing of muscle fibres. Maturity in muscular tissue is the result of the combined influences.
Myogenic behaviours are guided by the biophysical cues provided by the aligned PCM nanofibrous matrices, which facilitate intracellular biochemical signalling. Customisation of the MXene NP-infused matrices to treat a variety of muscle loss injuries is a possibility. Prof. Yun Hak Kim says,
“Within 5 to 10 years, this research may yield groundbreaking treatments for muscle injuries. MXene NP-infused matrices could become a routine in medical practice for athletes, people with muscle-related ailments, and those recuperating from muscle-related traumas or surgeries. These NPs might enhance muscle regeneration methods, offering improved outcomes for reconstructive surgeries and conditions like muscular dystrophy, where muscle function is compromised.”
To better meet the needs of individual patients, this customisation may entail changing the composition, structure, or features (such as size, shape, or bioactivity). Customising these materials could provide tailored remedies for different levels of muscle atrophy.
Furthermore, the increased muscle regeneration that has been seen may contribute to a quicker recovery and a decrease in the need for post-treatment rehabilitation. These matrices have the potential to improve in vivo muscle regeneration because of their tunable mechanical characteristics. Additional investigation on MXene could lead to more clinical uses that could improve human health.
References:
Pusan National University. “Breakthrough in muscle regeneration: Nanotech scaffolding supports tissue growth.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 January 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240124132835.htm>.