Abstract
Biohybrid robots composed of biological and synthetic components have been introduced to reconstruct biological functions in mechanical systems and obtain better understanding of biological designs. For example, biohybrid robots powered by skeletal muscle tissue have already succeeded in performing various movements. However, it has been difficult for the conventional biohybrid robots to actuate in air, as the skeletal muscle tissue often dries out in air and is damaged. To overcome this limitation, we propose a biohybrid robot in which the skeletal muscle tissue is encapsulated in a collagen structure to maintain the required humidity conditions when operated in air. As the skeletal muscle tissue maintains high cell viability and contractility, even after encapsulation within the collagen structure, the biohybrid robot can move in air through contractions of the skeletal muscle tissue. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed biohybrid robot, we demonstrate its use in object manipulation. In addition, to prove its capability of functionality enhancement, we show that the biohybrid robot can actuate for a long term when perfusable tubes are set inside the collagen structure; it can actuate even while culturing cells on its surface. The developed biohybrid robot composed of skeletal muscle tissue and collagen structure can be employed within platforms used to replicate various motions of land animals.
Highlights
IntroductionBiohybrid robots constructed through the integration of biological components and synthetic structures have received a great deal of interest, as a method to incorporate biological functions into mechanical systems and study biological designs in vitro
Recent developments in the in vitro fabrication techniques for muscle tissue allow the construction of biohybrid robots with an antagonistic pair of skeletal muscle tissues, to enable bidirectional motions controlled by selective contractions of each muscle tissue
We developed a biohybrid robot composed of skeletal muscle tissue and a flexible substrate with a pair of electrodes embedded in a hollow space of a collagen structure
Summary
Biohybrid robots constructed through the integration of biological components and synthetic structures have received a great deal of interest, as a method to incorporate biological functions into mechanical systems and study biological designs in vitro.. The principle driving mechanism of a biohybrid robot with muscle tissue established on a flexible substrate is the deformation of the substrate through muscle contractions.. By inducing deformation of the substrate, under changing configurations and dimensions, biohybrid robots have succeeded in performing various biomimetic motions such as pumping, gripping, walking, and swimming.. Recent developments in the in vitro fabrication techniques for muscle tissue allow the construction of biohybrid robots with an antagonistic pair of skeletal muscle tissues, to enable bidirectional motions controlled by selective contractions of each muscle tissue..
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