In Vitro Insect Muscle for Tissue Engineering Applications

Tissue engineering is primarily associated with medical disciplines, and research has thus focused on mammalian cells. For applications where clinical relevance is not a constraint, it is useful to evaluate the potential of alternative cell sources to form tissues in vitro. Specifically, skeletal muscle tissue engineering for bioactuation and cultured foods could benefit from the incorporation of invertebrate cells, due to their less stringent growth requirements and other versatile features. Here, we used a Drosophila muscle cell line to demonstrate the benefits of insect cells relative to those derived from vertebrates. The cells were adapted to serum-free media, transitioned between adherent and suspension cultures, and manipulated with hormones. Furthermore, we analyzed scaffolds to support cell adhesion and assayed cellular protein and minerals to evaluate nutrition potential. The insect muscle cells exhibited advantageous growth patterns and hold unique functionality for tissue engineering applications beyond the medical realm.