Fast photocurable thiol-ene elastomers with tunable biodegradability, mechanical and surface properties enhance myoblast differentiation and contractile function

Biodegradable elastomers are important emerging biomaterials for biomedical applications, particularly in the area of soft-tissue engineering in which scaffolds need to match the physicochemical properties of native tissues. Here, we report novel fast photocurable elastomers with readily tunable mechanical properties, surface wettability, and degradability. These elastomers are prepared by a 5-min UV-irradiation of thiol-ene reaction systems of glycerol tripentenoate (GTP; a triene) or the combination of GTP and 4-pentenyl 4-pentenoate (PP; a diene) with a carefully chosen series of di- or tri-thiols. In the subsequent application study, these elastomers were found to be capable of overcoming delamination of myotubes, a technical bottleneck limiting the in vitro growth of mature functional myofibers. The glycerol-based elastomers supported the proliferation of mouse and human myoblasts, as well as myogenic differentiation into contractile myotubes. More notably, while beating mouse myotubes detached from conventional tissue culture plates, they remain adherent on the elastomer surface. The results suggest that these elastomers as novel biomaterials may provide a promising platform for engineering functional soft tissues with potential applications in regenerative medicine or pharmacological testing. [Display omitted] •Biocompatible elastomers are formed by thiol-ene UV-curing within 5 min.•Tunable wettability, mechanical properties, and degradability of the elastomers.•The elastomers remarkably promote myogenic differentiation of myoblasts.•Myotubes on the elastomers exhibit enhanced attachment and beating frequency.