Recent progress in engineering functional biohybrid robots actuated by living cells
Title of Paper:
Recent progress in engineering functional biohybrid robots actuated by living cells
Summary:
Abstract
Living cells are highly scalable biological actuators found in nature, and they are efficient technological solutions to actuate robotic systems. Recent advancements in biofabrication and tissue engineering have bridged the gap to interface muscle cells with artificial technology. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in engineering the attributes of individual components for the development of fully functional biohybrid robots. First, we address the fabrication of biological actuators for biohybrid robots with muscle cells and tissues, including cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscles, insect tissues, and neuromuscular tissues, in well-organized pattern of 2D sheets and 3D constructs. Next, we discuss the performance of biohybrid robots for various biomimetic tasks such as swimming, walking, gripping, and pumping. Finally, the challenges and future directions in the development of biohybrid robots are described from different viewpoints of living material engineering, multiscale modeling, 3D printing for manufacturing, and multifunctional robotic system development.
Statement of significance
Nature provides elegant actuators across a wide range from subcellular components to tissues with high energy efficiency, power-to-weight ratio, and self-healing ability for biohybrid robots. In this review, we summarize recent progress in integrating the attributes of individual components for developing functional biohybrid robots. First, the fabrication of bioactuators is discussed by combining living materials (cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscles, insect dorsal vessel tissues, and neuromuscular tissues) with synthetic materials. Next, functional biohybrid robots are summarized, including biohybrid swimmers, walkers, grippers, and pumps. Finally, challenges and future directions are described from the viewpoints of living material engineering, modeling, 3D printing, and multifunctional system development. This paper provides a significant reference for the development of unprecedent biohybrid robots with sensing, intelligence, and actuation.
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/alldb/full-record/WOS:000614529200002
Co-author:
Lin Gao, M. Usman Akhtar,Fan Yang，Shahzad Ahmad, Jiankang He, Wei Cheng, Jianhua Zhang, Dichen Li
Papers
