Significance
Stem cell therapy for skeletal muscle regeneration in ischemic limb experiences low rate of myogenic differentiation. Employing injectable hydrogels as stem cell carriers may enhance the myogenic differentiation as hydrogel modulus may be modulated to induce the differentiation. Yet current approaches used to modulate hydrogel modulus may simultaneously vary other properties that also affect stem cell myogenic differentiation, such as chemistry, composition and water content. In this report, we decoupled the hydrogel modulus from chemistry, composition, and water content using injectable and thermosensitive hydrogels. We found that mesenchymal stem cells best differentiated into myogenic lineage in the hydrogel with elastic modulus of 20 kPa.
Statement of significance
Stem cell therapy for skeletal muscle regeneration in ischemic limb experiences low rate of myogenic differentiation. Employing injectable hydrogels as stem cell carriers may enhance the myogenic differentiation as hydrogel modulus may be modulated to induce the differentiation. Yet current approaches used to modulate hydrogel modulus may simultaneously vary other properties that also affect stem cell myogenic differentiation, such as chemistry, composition and water content. In this report, we decoupled the hydrogel modulus from chemistry, composition, and water content using injectable and thermosensitive hydrogels. We found that mesenchymal stem cells best differentiated into myogenic lineage in the hydrogel with elastic modulus of 20 kPa.