August 8, 2025
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology(QST)
Tokyo Metropolitan University
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Abstract
Researchers from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and Tokyo Metropolitan University have successfully engineered cultured skeletal muscle that exhibits the characteristics of slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are essential for maintaining posture, everyday movement, and endurance activities. Using QST’s proprietary radiation-based processing technology, the team developed a hydrogel that mimics both the softness and aligned fiber structure of natural muscle tissue, enabling the formation of aligned myotubes with slow-twitch muscle properties that could not be achieved using conventional culture dishes. This new muscle model is expected to accelerate the development of therapeutics, functional foods, regenerative medicine, and other approaches aimed at preventing or restoring age-related muscle decline and improving quality of life in an aging society.
The findings were published online in Scientific Reports on August 8, 2025.
EurekAlert!
The results were also featured on EurekAlert! on Novenmber 3, 2025(UTC).
Soft gel breakthrough enables lab-grown slow-twitch muscles | EurekAlert!