Kang, Yuannan;
Kalaskar, Deepak M;
Player, Darren J;
(2025)
In vitro models of muscle spindles: From traditional methods to 3D bioprinting strategies.
Journal of Tissue Engineering
, 16
10.1177/20417314251343388.
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Abstract
Muscle spindles are key proprioceptive mechanoreceptors composed of intrafusal fibres that regulate kinaesthetic sensations and reflex actions. Traumatic injuries and neuromuscular diseases can severely impair the proprioceptive feedback, yet the regenerative potential and cell-matrix interactions of muscle spindles remain poorly understood. There is a pressing need for robust tissue-engineered models to study spindle development, function and regeneration. Traditional approaches, while insightful, often lack physiological relevance and scalability. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting offers a promising approach to fabricate biomimetic, scalable, and animal-free muscle spindle constructs with controlled cellular architecture. Various bioprinting techniques – including inkjet, extrusion, digital light projection and laser-assisted bioprinting – have been explored for skeletal muscle fabrication, but replicating intrafusal fibre complexity remains a challenge. A major challenge lies in bioink development, where biocompatibility, printability and mechanical strength must be balanced to support intrafusal fibre differentiation and proprioceptive function. Recent molecular insights into spindle anatomy, innervation and extracellular matrix composition are shaping biofabrication strategies. This review discusses the current state of muscle spindle modelling, the application of 3D bioprinting in intrafusal fibre engineering, key challenges and future directions.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | In vitro models of muscle spindles: From traditional methods to 3D bioprinting strategies |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1177/20417314251343388 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20417314251343388 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). |
| Keywords: | skeletal muscle, muscle spindle, intrafusal fibre, proprioception, tissue engineering, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, bioprinting, bioink, hydrogel |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Ortho and MSK Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Targeted Intervention |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10211685 |
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