Raghav Popuri

How can induced pluripotent stem cells be used to accelerate the recovery of muscle injuries that occur during sports?

Started Mar. 26, 2025

Abstract or project description

The impact of muscle injuries in sports is substantial, impacting an estimated 4 million athletes annually in the US. In addition to the valuable training time replaced by recovery, a lack of better treatment options leaves most athletes vulnerable to further injury following their recovery. A possible solution to this problem would involve differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to biofabricate an implantable muscle construct that would serve as a replacement for the torn muscle fibers. To achieve this, somatic skin cells are reprogrammed to iPSCs, which are further differentiated into myoblasts. Using a gelatin methacryloyl backing and a fibrin overlay, the myoblasts fuse and form myotube sheets, which can be stacked and vascularized, using endothelial cells, to form an implantable muscle tissue construct. Once it is created, the tissue will be surgically implanted, accelerating recovery times for injured athletes. As advancements in stem cell biology and tissue engineering advance, implantable muscle tissues will become increasingly accessible and practical, gradually eliminating one of sports' most prevalent problems.