Recent progress in engineering functional biohybrid robots actuated by living cells.

Journal: Acta biomaterialia
Published Date: Dec 5, 2020

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.

Authors

  • Lin Gao
  • M Usman Akhtar
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China.
  • Fan Yang
    School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China.
  • Shahzad Ahmad
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China.
  • Jiankang He
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China; State Key Lab for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China.
  • Qin Lian
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China; State Key Lab for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China.
  • Wei Cheng
    Department of Dental Implantology, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
  • Jinhua Zhang
    State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
  • Dichen Li
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China; State Key Lab for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China.

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