Fig. 5: Functional restoration using transplanted tissues formed with acoustofluidic bioassembly.

a, b Immunostaining images of CD31 (green) and DAPI (blue) (a) and MF20 (gray), BTX (green), SV2/2H3 (red), and DAPI (blue) (b) of injured muscles at 12 weeks. The bottom rows in (b) are the merged images without MF20. Scale bars represent 50 μm. c–e Number of capillaries (c) (n = 5), AChRs (d) (n = 4), and NMJs (e) (n = 4) per field. f Schematic of the force measurement of the impaired muscle using electrical stimuli from electrodes. g–h Schematic of the force (red) made by electrical stimuli (blue) (g) and representative force plots during the twitch and tetanic behavior (h). i–l Twitch (i) and tetanic (j) force, maximum rate of contraction (k) and relaxation (l) at pre-operation (Pre-op) and 2, 4, and 6 weeks (n = 6 biologically independent samples). The forces were normalized by values at Pre-op. m, n Force decay during tetanic stimulation (m) and time required to reach 50% of the initial values (n) at 6 weeks (n = 6 biologically independent samples). o Schematic of the weight-bearing analysis. p Weight bearing ratio of the injured to the uninjured hindlimb in the NT, iMPC+MN AB, and Normal groups at 6 weeks (n = 6 biologically independent samples). q Schematic of the grip strength test. r Grip strength at Pre-op and 4, 8, and 12 weeks (n = 9 biologically independent samples for NT, gel, and Normal, and n = 10 biologically independent samples for other groups at Pre-op and 4 weeks; n = 4 biologically independent samples for NT, gel, iMPC+MN R, and iMPC+MN AB and n = 5 biologically independent samples for other groups at 8 and 12 weeks). All data are presented as mean ± S.D. Statistical differences in (c), (d), (e), (n) and (p) were determined with a one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test, and those in (i), (j), (k), (l), and (r) were determined with a two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01 versus NT, $P < 0.05 and $$P < 0.01 versus gel, ^P < 0.05 versus iMPC+MN R, +P < 0.05 and ++P < 0.01 versus iMPC AB, and *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 versus Normal. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.