Scientists grew living cells on a robot skeleton

2 June 2022

Scientists have discovered a new tissue engineering concept. The science of growing human cells to use in medical treatments is still very young. But scientists have been working hard to come up with new ways to do it effectively. A new method discovered by engineers could improve the quality of tissue engineering by growing it on moving robotic skeletons.

But what makes growing human cells on a moving skeleton so important? Typically, these kinds of cells are grown in very static environments, like these brain cells grown in a petri dish. As such, the cells aren’t particularly designed to flex and move like natural cells. In the past, researchers have grown cells on hinges. But those cells only flex and stretch in one direction.

By growing them on a full robotic skeleton, the cells could be designed to flex and stretch like naturally grown human cells. This could allow medical treatment in wider situations, especially if the cells are needed for areas that require flexing or stretching. Of course, this new tissue engineering concept still has a way a go before it reaches past “proof of concept.”

The researchers published a paper in Communications Engineering that documents their findings. They decided to go with a robotic skeleton because growing cells in an actual person can bring a slew of difficulties to the table.