MIT builds muscle: biohybrid robots powered by living cells Imagine a robot powered not by whirring gears or cold metal, but by the pulsing...
MIT builds muscle: biohybrid robots powered by living cells
Imagine a robot powered not by whirring gears or cold metal, but by the pulsing power of living muscles. Science fiction factor is long gone. MIT researchers have taken biohybrid robotics a step further by creating a robot powered by living mouse muscle cells.
The purpose of using biological tissue in machinery is to preserve the life and function of cells outside their natural environment. The MIT team solved this problem by developing complex microfluidic channels that run through the robotic structure. These channels act as a circulatory system, delivering nutrients and oxygen to muscle cells and transporting waste products.
So how does this little muscle move? This is where creativity comes into play. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a flexible “skeleton” for a robot. This armature is made of a special material that bends easily in one direction and does not bend in the other. When stimulated by an electric current, muscle cells contract, bending the skeleton and causing the robot to move.
These biohybrid robots are still in the early stages of development. The current prototype is small, only a few millimeters long. Their movements are relatively simple. It bends or compresses. But the potential of this technology is enormous.
Here are some exciting possibilities:
Microbots for medical applications:
Imagine tiny robots that can navigate inside the body, delivering drugs directly to diseased cells or performing delicate surgeries. Biohybrid robots, powered by living muscle cells, could be perfectly suited for such tasks. Their small size and maneuverability would allow them to reach areas inaccessible to traditional surgical tools.
Biocompatible implants:
Biohybrid robots could be used to create implants that integrate seamlessly with the human body. For example, a robotic heart assist device made with living muscle cells could potentially offer a more natural and effective way to support a failing heart. Search and rescue. These small robots could be deployed in disaster areas to search for survivors in collapsed buildings or other hazardous environments. Their soft bodies allowed them to move through the rubble without causing further damage. Ethical issues regarding the use of live animal cells in robotics must be carefully considered. However, the potential benefits of biohybrid robotics are undeniable. This technology could revolutionize fields like medicine, engineering, and even disaster relief. MIT's development of a biohybrid robot powered by living muscle cells marks an important step toward a future where the lines between biology and machines are blurred. The possibilities are exciting, and it will be exciting to see where this technology takes us in the future.
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