MuMuTAs (multiple muscle tissue actuators) to build biohybrid robots | Microsoft generative ai tools | Microsoft generative ai tools free | Generative ai tools meaning | Turtles AI

A team of Japanese researchers has developed a biohybrid hand powered by lab-grown human muscles, called MuMuTA, capable of performing complex movements and manipulating objects with high precision.

Key Points:

• Innovation in MuMuTA: Thin muscle tissues coiled to maximize contractility and avoid necrosis.
• Advanced Movement: The biohybrid hand performs complex gestures such as "rock-paper-scissors" and manipulates small tools.
• Technical Challenges: Need for liquid suspension and limit in the ability of the fingers to return to the neutral position.
• Future Perspectives: Applications in advanced prosthetics and laboratory automation.

An important evolution in the field of biohybrid robotics comes from Japan, where a team of researchers from the University of Tokyo and Waseda University have designed a biohybrid hand capable of performing sophisticated movements and manipulating small objects. This was achieved by combining 3D printed components with multiple muscle tissue actuators (MuMuTA), derived from thin human muscle fibers grown on flat surfaces and then rolled into cylindrical structures to avoid central necrosis and ensure greater contractile force.

Unlike traditional small biohybrid devices, this hand has an 18 cm structure that allows independent movement of each finger. Its capabilities were demonstrated by performing the scissors gesture and manipulating a pipette, movements obtained thanks to electrical stimulation of the MuMuTA. These actuators, arranged in glass containers for precise control of stimulation, respond to electrical signals by contracting and enabling articulated movement of the fingers.

The innovative design of the MuMuTA has solved one of the main obstacles in biohybrid robotics: thick muscle tissue necrosis. By growing the muscles in thin sheets and then rolling them, the researchers ensured uniform access to nutrients. Each muscle bundle can be activated by electrical signals, allowing precise movements. However, the hand needs to be suspended in a liquid to reduce friction and maintain tissue viability, and currently lacks an active mechanism to return the fingers to their initial position, relying solely on buoyancy.

Muscle fatigue emerged after about ten minutes of continuous use, with the contractile force of the tissues decreasing, but recovering after an hour of rest. This behavior reflects a similarity to natural muscles and suggests that “training” techniques or the use of growth factors could improve tissue strength.

The potential for this technology is significant. Applications include the development of advanced prosthetics that more closely replicate the functioning of human muscles, as well as platforms for drug testing or surgical procedures. In the field of laboratory automation, similar biohybrid devices could improve the management of delicate tasks, such as pipetting or sample manipulation.

Despite the challenges that remain, such as integrating MuMuTAs in dry environments or optimizing bidirectional finger movement, researchers are confident that further technological developments will lead to significant progress. The approach adopted represents a crucial step in expanding the field of biohybrid robotics and offers new perspectives for understanding the behavior of muscle tissues in artificial contexts.

Research on MuMuTAs and their application in the biohybrid hand opens new avenues in the symbiosis between biological and artificial elements, tracing a path of innovation in the field of robotics and advanced prosthetics.