Oxford University and Devanthro created a robotic shoulder joint and placed it inside a bioreactor, allowing human cells to grow inside. (Image Credit: Nature/YouTube)
Straight out of the movies.
Until recently, living cells were grown using Petri dishes and mini 3D scaffolds. Past studies demonstrated that tissue grows on moving structures, including hinges. Scientists from Oxford University and robotics firm Devanthro managed to grow living cells on an open-source robot skeleton through a specially built environment called a bioreactor. With this setup, the tissue can move and bend in all directions via stimulation.
For this study, the team placed the cells on a newly developed robotic shoulder joint, which replicates a human’s movement. Afterward, they created the bioreactor, placing it in the shoulder via biodegradable filament threads that stretch between two anchor points. This structure was then housed inside a balloon-like outer membrane.
Then, the team placed the human cells in each filament and flooded the balloon-like membrane with a nutrient-heavy liquid. This provided an environment for the cells to grow, which took two weeks combined with a workout routine. The robot skeleton moved the cells around for thirty minutes during the workout, allowing them to stretch and flex.
(Image Credit: Nature/YouTube)
The scientists noticed that the cells underwent various changes compared to cells in a static environment. Even then, they’re not 100% certain if these changes provide positive results. So it’s not yet known if these cells have any medical applications. Generally speaking, it’s possible to grow human cells on a robot skeleton. But the team needs to decide if the changes triggered by the robot are worthwhile. Researchers could still try to explore other human cell growth concepts.
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