Roboreactors

Scientists have proposed to grow tissue for transplantation in robots

marks, Geektimes, based on Ars Technica: Get ready for robots made with human flesh

Over the past couple of decades, robotics has achieved significant results. Four–legged robots, wheeled robots, ultra-precise manipulators - all this is only part of the abundance of models that we are currently seeing. Of all types of robots, humanoid systems are perhaps of the greatest interest to ordinary people and scientists. Such devices are now actively helping people – they are used in the hotel business, in scientific and military developments, in everyday life and medicine. As an example of the most advanced models, Kenshiro and Eccerobot can be cited. These robots have an analogue of bones and muscles (the developers originally planned to repeat the structure of the human body), so that their movements resemble human ones. 

Since the anatomy of these robots is close to the original, some scientists are considering the possibility of creating so-called bioreactors from such systems. The purpose of any bioreactor is to create optimal conditions for the vital activity of cells and microorganisms cultivated in it, namely, to provide respiration, supply of nutrition and removal of metabolites by evenly mixing the gas and liquid components of the contents of the bioreactor. In this article we are talking about systems for growing tissues for transplantation to human patients. While organs can be taken for transplantation from donors, doctors often require tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage. Little by little they are learning to grow them, but in order to put "production on stream", bioreactors are needed where tissue fragments can be grown according to specified parameters. 

In addition, in order for the properties of such tissues to meet the criteria for transplantation, they need to be grown under certain conditions, including the presence of substances necessary for growth and a certain mechanical load or mechanical stimulation, as this factor is also called. 

Unfortunately, this is not so easy to do, since the design of modern bioreactors is largely primitive. In a mechanical bioreactor, mixing is carried out by a mechanical stirrer, which leads to insufficiently uniform mixing on the one hand, and to the death of microorganisms on the other. The mixing mode can be changed, but it is difficult to call this type of reactor optimal. Processes that occur in a real organism, including mechanical loads, such reactors are not able to reproduce. As a result, the quality of the grown tissues suffers. 

The optimal design of the bioreactor should provide for the possibility of adding mechanical loads for various directions, emulation of the mode of mechanical loads for tissues of different types, in accordance with the anatomical location of specific tissues and the general compliance of tissue growing conditions with conditions in the human body.

According to biologist Andrew Carr and his colleagues, the design of the bioreactor should repeat the anatomy of the human body – those parts of it for which tissues are grown. Therefore, humanoid robots with a skeleton and muscles that repeat the configuration of the human skeleton and muscles are the best option. 

Experts from the University of Tokyo have proposed their own version of such a system. This is a Kenshiro robot. The Japanese have been working with this project for about 7 years, having significantly improved the design of the robot. 

The body configuration of this system is similar to the body structure of a 12-year-old Japanese boy. Its height is 158 centimeters, its weight is 50 kg. The robot's body is equipped with an almost complete set of muscles, which a human also has. In total, the scientists added 160 such muscles: 50 in the legs, 76 in the torso, 12 in the shoulders, 22 in the neck. At the moment, Keshiro is the most perfect repetition of human anatomy in a robot. 

What do the bioreactor and this robot have in common? Andrew Carra believes that Keshiro or other similar systems can be converted into advanced bioreactors. Muscle cells will be built up on electroactive polymers of artificial robot muscles. During the growth process, new tissues will be subjected to mechanical loads, so that the samples obtained will meet all the necessary requirements. Similarly, scientists are going to grow other tissues, including tendons and cartilage. 

The bioreactor of the future may well look like a model of the T-800 terminator. Human tissues, including muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and skin, are gradually growing on a metal or polymer frame. The entire robot or its individual elements move, so that the tissues are subjected to the necessary mechanical loads. After a certain period of time, these tissues are removed from the frame for transplantation to a human donor. Such bioreactors will eliminate the need to conduct experiments with animals in clinical trials. 

By the way, in the distant future, events may develop in a different way: people will gradually turn into robots, more precisely, into cyborgs. 

Article by Pierre-Alexis Mouthuy and Andrew Carr Growing tissue grafts on humanoid robots: A future strategy in regenerative medicine? published in the journal Science Robotics.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  02.03.2017