Biohybrid robotics with living cell actuation.

Journal: Chemical Society reviews
Published Date: Jun 22, 2020

Abstract

As simulators of organisms in Nature, soft robots have been developed over the past few decades. In particular, biohybrid robots constructed by integrating living cells with soft materials demonstrate the unique advantage of simulating the construction and functions of human tissues or organs, thus attracting extensive attention and research interest. Here, we present up-to-date studies concerning biohybrid robots with various biological actuators such as contractile cells and microorganisms. After presenting the basic components including biological components and synthetic materials, the controlling methods and locomotion modalities of biohybrid robots are clarified and summarized. We then focus on the applications, especially the biomedical applications, of the biohybrid robots including drug delivery, bioimaging, and tissue engineering. The challenges and prospects for the future development of biohybrid robots are also presented.

Authors

  • Lingyu Sun
    Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
  • Yunru Yu
    State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096 Nanjing, China. yjzhao@seu.edu.cn.
  • Zhuoyue Chen
    State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096 Nanjing, China. yjzhao@seu.edu.cn.
  • Feika Bian
    State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096 Nanjing, China. yjzhao@seu.edu.cn.
  • Fangfu Ye
    Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China. fye@iphy.ac.cn and Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
  • Lingyun Sun
    Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 210008 Nanjing, China. lingyunsun@nju.edu.cn and Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Nanjing 210008, P. R. China.
  • Yuanjin Zhao
    Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 210008 Nanjing, China. lingyunsun@nju.edu.cn and Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Nanjing 210008, P. R. China and Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China. fye@iphy.ac.cn and State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096 Nanjing, China. yjzhao@seu.edu.cn.

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