Robots covered in human tissue: What used to be the stuff of science fiction movies like “Terminator” or “Star Trek” is now getting a little closer. Japanese scientists have covered a robotic finger with lab-grown human skin for the first time.
The finger was developed at the University of Tokyo and presented Thursday in the magazine Matter. In the article, a research team led by Shoji Takeuchi describes exactly how human tissue was cultured and what beneficial properties it has.
Mechanical finger immersed in collagen solution
To grow the skin on the robotic finger, it was immersed in a cylinder containing a solution of collagen and human skin fibroblasts. The “natural tendency to shrink” of human connective tissue ensures that the mechanical components are tightly enclosed by tissue, Winfuture.de quotes from the technical article.
This layer of tissue was followed by another epidermal keratinocyte – the cells that make up most of our outer skin layer. The layers give the robotic finger “a skin-like texture and moisture-retaining properties,” the researchers report. Takeuchi: “The finger looks a little sweaty when it comes out of the nutrient solution.”
Important breakthrough, but there are still problems
Breeding of the skin went more smoothly than expected. Takeuchi: “We are surprised how well the skin tissue adapts to the surface of the robot.” A first hurdle in the development of robots covered with organic tissue has thus been overcome. However, it is unlikely that the technology will be widely adopted anytime soon.
Although artificial skin can be quickly grown in the lab, the epidermis from the nutrient solution is not as robust as natural skin. In addition, the researchers still face major problems with the supply of nutrients to the tissue: without proper care, the artificial skin will not last long. In the next step, therefore, ‘more functional structures’ must be integrated.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
