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Building Biohybrid Robots from Living Muscle Tissue
Biohybrid Robotics combines muscle tissue engineering, and robotics, with the aim to design functional robots which are powered by living tissue. In our lab, we are exploring the use of new biofabrication processes to engineer contractile muscle tissue. This muscle can then be implemented into the design of biohybrid robots, for example biohybrid swimmers or grippers. Alternatively, such a muscle can be explored for therapeutic applications. We are looking for a motivated student, who is excited to learn about state-of-the-art biofabrication and tissue culture protocols, to support this project during a semester project or master thesis.
Please refer to the PDF for more information
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**Project Description**
Biohybrid Robotics combines muscle tissue engineering, and robotics, with the aim to design functional robots which are powered by living tissue. We are looking for a motivated student, who is excited to learn about state-of-the-art biofabrication and tissue culture protocols, to support this project during a semester project or master thesis.
In this exciting project, you will the advantages and disadvantages of a specific biofabrication process (e.g., extrusion-based printing, volumetric printing, or ultrasound-based printing) to engineer contractile muscle constructs, using muscle myoblasts. You will investigate and develop a tissue culture protocol, which achieves contractility in the fabricated hydrogel scaffolds. Finally, you will define a robotic application for the engineered muscles and characterize performance.
**Work Packages**
- Develop an extraction procedure for primary rat myoblasts
- Test contractility of myoblasts in bioprinted hydrogel scaffolds
- Optimize tissue culture protocol and design of hydrogel scaffold to achieve large-scale contractility
- Implement designed actuators in a robotic application
- Characterize functionality of designed robots.
**Expected Requirements**
- Background in Biological/Health Science, or Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, Chemical…)
- High motivation for applied biology and tissue engineering (e.g., cell culture, microscopy…)
- Previous research experience (does not have to be directly relevant to the field) and good academic performance
- Desire to conduct independent experimental work, and enthusiasm to tackle potential problems.
- For shorter projects (e.g., 3-months) some basic experience in cell culture is ideal.
Please refer to the PDF for more information
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**Project Description** Biohybrid Robotics combines muscle tissue engineering, and robotics, with the aim to design functional robots which are powered by living tissue. We are looking for a motivated student, who is excited to learn about state-of-the-art biofabrication and tissue culture protocols, to support this project during a semester project or master thesis.
In this exciting project, you will the advantages and disadvantages of a specific biofabrication process (e.g., extrusion-based printing, volumetric printing, or ultrasound-based printing) to engineer contractile muscle constructs, using muscle myoblasts. You will investigate and develop a tissue culture protocol, which achieves contractility in the fabricated hydrogel scaffolds. Finally, you will define a robotic application for the engineered muscles and characterize performance.
**Work Packages**
- Develop an extraction procedure for primary rat myoblasts - Test contractility of myoblasts in bioprinted hydrogel scaffolds - Optimize tissue culture protocol and design of hydrogel scaffold to achieve large-scale contractility - Implement designed actuators in a robotic application - Characterize functionality of designed robots.
**Expected Requirements**
- Background in Biological/Health Science, or Engineering (Biomedical, Mechanical, Chemical…) - High motivation for applied biology and tissue engineering (e.g., cell culture, microscopy…) - Previous research experience (does not have to be directly relevant to the field) and good academic performance - Desire to conduct independent experimental work, and enthusiasm to tackle potential problems. - For shorter projects (e.g., 3-months) some basic experience in cell culture is ideal.
Fabrication of contractile 3D hydrogel scaffolds using novel approaches in muscle tissue engineering.
Fabrication of contractile 3D hydrogel scaffolds using novel approaches in muscle tissue engineering.
Lewis Jones, ljones@ethz.ch, Soft Robotics Lab (ETH Zentrum), Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT. Applications are accepted by email or SiROP. Please include your CV, transcript, references, and a short letter of motivation.
Lewis Jones, ljones@ethz.ch, Soft Robotics Lab (ETH Zentrum), Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, D-MAVT. Applications are accepted by email or SiROP. Please include your CV, transcript, references, and a short letter of motivation.