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Muscle tissue engineering for bio-hybrid robotics
You will obtain functional constructs of living muscle tissue that can be implemented into robots as bio-actuators. The tissue will be realized via bioprinting or conventional biofabrication in 3D designs at the mm-to-cm scale. The deformation of the constructs will be achieved via electrical stimulation of contractile muscle cells, and integrated sensing elements will monitor the motion of the tissue constructs, improving functionality and autonomy.
Soft robots are built with materials that have elasticities in the range of soft biological systems. Biological systems are capable of autonomous behavior, present agile and adaptive properties, and can respond to ever-changing external conditions. Integration of complex biological systems into soft robot designs leads to the realization of soft robots with improved sensing, actuation, and adaptive abilities.
In this exciting project at the interface of biological and engineering sciences, we aim to generate constructs of muscle tissue from living skeletal muscle cells via 3D bioprinting and/or other conventional biofabrication approaches (e.g., molding). We aim then to achieve deformation of the overall structure by inducing cell contractions via electrical stimulation. Biocompatible materials will be studied to optimize the formulation of the bio-inks\. Integrated soft sensing elements based on conductive composites will be used to detect the contraction and performance of the soft tissue structures. Because of the soft biocompatible polymers used for developing the conductive composites, a good affinity with the surrounded tissue is expected. Bio-actuators will be implemented into biohybrid soft robots with the overarching goal of understanding the coordinated actions of the muscle tissues in response to dynamically changing external signals.
Soft robots are built with materials that have elasticities in the range of soft biological systems. Biological systems are capable of autonomous behavior, present agile and adaptive properties, and can respond to ever-changing external conditions. Integration of complex biological systems into soft robot designs leads to the realization of soft robots with improved sensing, actuation, and adaptive abilities. In this exciting project at the interface of biological and engineering sciences, we aim to generate constructs of muscle tissue from living skeletal muscle cells via 3D bioprinting and/or other conventional biofabrication approaches (e.g., molding). We aim then to achieve deformation of the overall structure by inducing cell contractions via electrical stimulation. Biocompatible materials will be studied to optimize the formulation of the bio-inks\. Integrated soft sensing elements based on conductive composites will be used to detect the contraction and performance of the soft tissue structures. Because of the soft biocompatible polymers used for developing the conductive composites, a good affinity with the surrounded tissue is expected. Bio-actuators will be implemented into biohybrid soft robots with the overarching goal of understanding the coordinated actions of the muscle tissues in response to dynamically changing external signals.
Realization 3D muscle constructs and understanding the coordinated actions of the muscle actuator in response to external stimulation.
Realization 3D muscle constructs and understanding the coordinated actions of the muscle actuator in response to external stimulation.
Dr. Miriam Filippi, mfilippi@ethz.ch, Soft Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT.
Antonia Georgopoulou-Papadonikolaki, antonia.georgopoulou@empa.ch, High Performance Ceramics Lab (Empa).
Dr. Miriam Filippi, mfilippi@ethz.ch, Soft Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT.
Antonia Georgopoulou-Papadonikolaki, antonia.georgopoulou@empa.ch, High Performance Ceramics Lab (Empa).
Project_Sensing Bio-actuators_ SRL.pdf
