Recent progress in engineering functional biohybrid robots actuated by living cells

Lin Gao; M Usman Akhtar; Fan Yang; Shahzad Ahmad; Jiankang He; Qin Lian; Wei Cheng; Jinhua Zhang; Dichen Li

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.002

Recent progress in engineering functional biohybrid robots actuated by living cells

Acta Biomater. 2021 Feb:121:29-40. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.002. Epub 2020 Dec 5.

Authors

Lin Gao¹, M Usman Akhtar², Fan Yang³, Shahzad Ahmad², Jiankang He³, Qin Lian³, Wei Cheng³, Jinhua Zhang³, Dichen Li³

Affiliations

¹ 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. Electronic address: gaolin2013@xjtu.edu.cn.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Xian Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xian Shaanxi 710049, China.
³ 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.

PMID: 33285324
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.002

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.

Keywords: Biohybrid robots; Biomimetics; Cardiomyocytes; Fabrication; Skeletal muscles.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Biomimetics
Muscle, Skeletal
Printing, Three-Dimensional
Robotics*
Tissue Engineering