In California, UCLA bioengineering professor Ali Khademhosseini led the development of a tissue-based soft bio-robot that mimics the biomechanics of a stingray. The new technology could lead to advances in bio-inspired robotics, regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics.
The 10-millimeter long robot can swim in water and is made up of four layers: tissue composed of live heart cells, two distinct types of specialized biomaterials for structural support, and flexible electrodes, according to the press release. Imitating nature, the robotic stingray is even able to “flap” its fins when the electrodes contract the heart cells on the biomaterial scaffold.
“The development of such bioinspired systems could enable future robotics that contain both biological tissues and electronic systems,” Khademhosseini said in the press release. “This advancement could be used for medical therapies such as personalized tissue patches to strengthen cardiac muscle tissue for heart attack patients.”