Biohybrid robots: recent progress, challenges, and perspectives

Webster‐Wood, Victoria A.; Guix, Maria; Xu, Nicole; Behkam, Bahareh; Sato, Hirotaka; Sarkar, Deblina; Sánchez, Samuel; Shimizu, Masahiro; Parker, Kevin Kit

doi:10.1088/1748-3190/ac9c3b

Cited by 46 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 205 publications

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“…[246][247][248] Natural biological templates are usually single-cell organisms that exhibit distinct advantages owing to their unique natural properties. For example, as motile cells, sperm, bacteria, and microalgae can be considered microswimmers and achieve efficient actuation and motion in a low Reynolds number regime owing to their flagellum, which can be used as a versatile micromotor [32,249,250] (Figure 6). These motile cells can be used to manufacture cell-based biohybrid micro-robots and exhibit tremendous potential for biomedical applications when combined with various propulsion methods.…”

Section: Other Biohybrid Cell-based Micro/nano-robotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, biological actuation includes bacteria-based [27,28] and eukaryotic cell-based actuation [29][30][31] and exhibits excellent biocompatibility; however, its applications are limited owing to their flexibility and poor lifespan. [32,33] In practical applications, researchers must select different actuation modes or combinations of different actuation modes according to the application scenario.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cell‐Based Micro/Nano‐Robots for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Chen,

Sun,

Zhang

et al. 2023

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Micro/nano‐robots are powerful tools for biomedical applications and are applied in disease diagnosis, tumor imaging, drug delivery, and targeted therapy. Among the various types of micro‐robots, cell‐based micro‐robots exhibit unique properties because of their different cell sources. In combination with various actuation methods, particularly externally propelled methods, cell‐based microrobots have enormous potential for biomedical applications. This review introduces recent progress and applications of cell‐based micro/nano‐robots. Different actuation methods for micro/nano‐robots are summarized, and cell‐based micro‐robots with different cell templates are introduced. Furthermore, the review focuses on the combination of cell‐based micro/nano‐robots with precise control using different external fields. Potential challenges, further prospects, and clinical translations are also discussed.

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Section: Other Biohybrid Cell-based Micro/nano-robotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cell‐Based Micro/Nano‐Robots for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Chen,

Sun,

Zhang

et al. 2023

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“…Moreover, the integration of microelectronic devices and organisms for manual enhancement or control is a promising approach to constructing biosyncretic robots. [ 111 ] Biosyncretic robots have been proposed based on various organisms, including jellyfish, [ 14,112,113 ] sea turtles, [ 114,115 ] locusts, [ 116,117 ] and beetles. [ 118–121 ] For example, Xu et al.…”

Section: Biosyncretic Robots With Different Living Materials As the A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biosyncretic Robots Actuated by Living Materials

Yang,

Zhang,

Wang

et al. 2023

Adv Materials Technologies

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In recent years, biosyncretic robots, a novel type of robot that integrates living and artificial materials, have gained significant attention. Biosyncretic robots are expected to leverage the advantages provided by living materials and offer a new approach to address the challenges faced by traditional robots, such as biocompatibility, intrinsic safety, and miniaturization. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the current state of development of biosyncretic robots. First, the existing research on biosyncretic robots based on commonly used living materials is systematically categorized and introduced, including cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscle cells, insect dorsal vascular tissue, and microorganisms. Subsequently, their potential in the fields of in vivo medical diagnosis and treatment, organ‐on‐a‐chip, tissue engineering, environmental monitoring, and postdisaster rescue in detail is also discussed. Finally, the current challenges faced by biosyncretic robotic research, including establishing theoretical models, fabrication, cultivation, and maintenance of living materials, controllability, versatility, artificial material, and entering the human body or leaving the laboratory, are examined. This review summarizes the cutting‐edge progress of biosyncretic robots and provides insights into their future development.

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“…

In recent years, various types of bionic robot systems have been reported to decipher the movement behaviors of the simplest creatures in nature. [5][6][7][8] Cilia and flagella are motile organelles that propel cells at velocities reaching several times their body size per second by beating. [9] Inspired by Chlamydomonas reinintilla, Cholakova et al [10] created flagellar microbots that self-assembled from alkane drops and swam through flagellar beats energized by surface phase transition.

…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Amoeba‐Inspired Magnetic Venom Microrobots

Zhang

Deng

Zhao

et al. 2023

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Nature provides a successful evolutionary direction for single‐celled organisms to solve complex problems and complete survival tasks – pseudopodium. Amoeba, a unicellular protozoan, can produce temporary pseudopods in any direction by controlling the directional flow of protoplasm to perform important life activities such as environmental sensing, motility, predation, and excretion. However, creating robotic systems with pseudopodia to emulate environmental adaptability and tasking capabilities of natural amoeba or amoeboid cells remains challenging. Here, this work presents a strategy that uses alternating magnetic fields to reconfigure magnetic droplet into Amoeba‐like microrobot, and the mechanisms of pseudopodia generation and locomotion are analyzed. By simply adjusting the field direction, microrobots switch in monopodia, bipodia, and locomotion modes, performing all pseudopod operations such as active contraction, extension, bending, and amoeboid movement. The pseudopodia endow droplet robots with excellent maneuverability to adapt to environmental variations, including spanning 3D terrains and swimming in bulk liquids. Inspired by the “Venom,” the phagocytosis and parasitic behaviors have also been investigated. Parasitic droplets inherit all the capabilities of amoeboid robot, expanding their applicable scenarios such as reagent analysis, microchemical reactions, calculi removal, and drug‐mediated thrombolysis. This microrobot may provide fundamental understanding of single‐celled livings, and potential applications in biotechnology and biomedicine.

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Biohybrid robots: recent progress, challenges, and perspectives

Cited by 46 publications

References 205 publications

Cell‐Based Micro/Nano‐Robots for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Cell‐Based Micro/Nano‐Robots for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Biosyncretic Robots Actuated by Living Materials

Amoeba‐Inspired Magnetic Venom Microrobots

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