Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for engineering muscle tissue such as cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle. Tissue engineering platforms use a substrate and a protein micropattern. The protein micropattern forms a plurality of protein lanes and at least one protein bridge that connects adjacent protein lanes having a connection angle is less than 90 degrees. Tissue engineering platforms can promote muscle cell alignment and be used for cell-based pharmacological studies. Also disclosed are degradable substrates for transferring a protein micropattern in the form of a plurality of protein lanes and at least one protein bridge that connects adjacent protein lanes having a connection angle is less than 90 degrees.