The human body moves through a coordinated effort of
skeletal muscles, working in concert to generate force. While some muscles align in a single direction, others form intricate patterns, enabling complex motion.
Engineers and scientists have long been interested in replicating these natural movements in artificial systems, particularly for soft robotics and medical applications. Traditional robotic actuators rely on rigid mechanical parts, but biohybrid robots powered by lab-grown muscle tissue could offer an alternative, allowing for flexible, energy-efficient motion.
However, engineering artificial muscle tissue with the ability to contract in multiple directions has remained a significant challenge. Most lab-grown
muscle fibers have been unidirectional, limiting their ability to mimic the complex movements seen in nature.
Now,
researchers at MIT have developed a breakthrough method that allows muscle tissues to contract in multiple, coordinated directions.
Their approach, called "simple templating of actuators via micro-topographical patterning" (STAMP), uses a cost-effective and scalable method to guide muscle cell growth along microscopic patterns, allowing for precise alignment of muscle fibers. This advancement opens the door for biohybrid robots with improved functionality and for medical applications in tissue engineering.
