Long-Term Functional 3D Human Skeletal Muscle Constructs from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Enable Electrically Controlled Remodelling Studies

Studying skeletal muscle remodelling across large temporal scales is difficult because most 3D tissue-engineered skeletal muscle (3D-TESM) models cannot sustain stable development over prolonged culture. Skeletal muscle adaptations in vivo are strongly influenced by changes in tissue length, but most TESM models are mechanically restrictive, limiting elongation and thereby constraining structural remodelling. The stiffness of the pillars that anchor the tissues is a key determinant of how much they can shorten or elongate during development, thereby shaping both their morphology and force-generating capacity. To address this limitation, we investigated how TESMs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) develop over two weeks when suspended between pillars with distinct mechanical properties, ranging from mechanically compliant to mechanically stiff boundary conditions. We focused on both passive and active force-generating properties.

With compliant pillars, tissues compacted primarily along their length (~66% reduction), followed by progressive elongation (~50% increase) from day 5 onward. In contrast, with stiff pillars, tissues compacted across their width, with no longitudinal shortening. Despite these morphological differences, projected tissue area decreased similarly across setups. Spontaneous contractions emerged from day 7 and continued until day 14, typically occurring in bursts at 0.6–0.8 Hz. Passive force peaked early with compliant pillars and declined thereafter, while remaining relatively stable with stiff pillars. Under stepwise electrical stimulation, maximal contractility was consistently observed at ~50 Hz. Active force rose sharply between day 12 and day 14, with the steepest increase (up to 2000%) in compliant pillars.

Although sample size was limited, the consistency of trends across stiffness conditions and surface treatments provides valuable insights into how boundary mechanics shape 3D-TESM development. These findings offer a foundation for designing next-generation muscle culture systems that support dynamic remodelling, force maturation, and training-responsive behaviours.