Electrospun polymeric scaffolds enable 3D tissue-like functionality and efficient photoinduced contraction

Abstract

Muscle tissue engineering aims to develop functional muscle constructs with controllable contraction for applications in regenerative medicine and drug screening. In this study, we present the development of a biocompatible, light-responsive bio-hybrid construct, combining the electrospinning technique for scaffold fabrication with a phototransducer. The scaffold, composed of electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) or poly(caprolactone) nanofibers, supports C2C12 myoblast adhesion and alignment, enabling the formation of organized cellular assemblies capable of generating measurable contractions. Light responsiveness is conferred by Ziapin2, a membrane-targeting azobenzene that enables non-genetic, optocapacitive stimulation under visible light exposure. We fabricated both 2D and self-standing quasi-3D scaffolds and systematically evaluated their mechanical properties and functional performance, observing that aligned fibers enhanced cellular organization and promoted macroscopic contractions in response to exogenous stimulation. After identifying PVA as the optimal material for quasi-3D scaffold fabrication, we evaluated the light-induced contractions, which generated strain and stresses of up to 4 × 10⁻⁴ and 3.3 kPa, respectively, leading to a contraction force of 460 µN. These results highlight the potential of aligned and photosensitized nanofiber scaffolds as biocompatible, optically controllable platforms for engineered muscle tissues, with applications in soft robotics, in vitro modeling, drug screening and regenerative medicine.