In recent years, the advancement of biobot technology has ushered in unprecedented opportunities for the execution of multifarious tasks within and around living organisms. Biobots, intricate microscopic robotic systems, represent synthetic biological structures meticulously devised through the application of sophisticated genetic engineering or bioengineering methodologies. The constituent cells within these structures are intricately programmed and modified to carry out highly specialized functions. Biobots have been intricately engineered, with a specific emphasis on applications in the fields of medicine, biomedicine, and environmental science. These applications span a spectrum that includes drug delivery, medical imaging, tissue repair, and environmental remediation, thereby underscoring their unique advantages over conventional robotic systems. This superiority emanates from their infinitesimal scale and seamless integration with biological systems. These inherent attributes augur well for their prospective deployment across a diverse array of pioneering applications in the foreseeable future.
Gümüşkaya and her colleagues have specifically designed synthetic biobots, named Anthrobots, as customizable cells derived from airway cells. Their comprehensive research on the morphological diversity and movement capabilities of Anthrobots provides significant findings indicating their potential role in repairing damaged tissues. The protocol used for Anthrobot production involves a gel-based matrix, offering advantages such as rapid, low-effort production and potentially high efficiency. The effects of various parameters, including matrix viscosity and cell seeding density, on controlling morphological features have been meticulously examined. Research on the dynamics of Anthrobot motility over time reveals that a morphological rearrangement event, exposing cilia, is a key factor triggering drastic changes in motility, confirming that the movement of Anthrobots is guided by cilia.
Anthrobots’ morphological diversity is categorized into three main morphotypes: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. These morphotypes manifest notable disparities in both size and shape regularity. Analyses suggest that the distinctive morphological indices among these morphotypes can be graphically represented on a developmental decision tree. Specifically, size and shape regularity emerge as the most pivotal distinguishing factors among morphotypes. A strong correlation is observed between the different movement types of Anthrobots and morphotypes. Immovable, linear, and circularly moving Anthrobots exhibit a consistent distribution with morphotypes. This suggests that Anthrobots incline toward specific movement modes based on their morphotypes, thereby facilitating the design and programming of Anthrobots tailored for particular tasks. Observations demonstrate that Anthrobot synthetic structures can effectively move on in vitro live neuronal monolayer scratches. These experiments, conducted on 2D confluent layers derived from human neurons, illustrate that Anthrobots can effectively move on damaged living tissues. An analysis is conducted on factors such as rotational tendency and speed, showing that Anthrobots with rotational tendencies or higher speeds traverse a higher percentage of the scratch interface, indicating a higher degree of unique coordinate coverage.
To further explore the effects of Anthrobots, superbot assemblies have been created to examine gap closure in live tissues. These assemblies, placed on scratches to bridge the two sides of damaged tissues, generate a noticeable closure in the scratch region. Observations show that the presence of superbots creates a gap closure with a distinct density profile compared to the surrounding scratch area. This suggests a potential role for Anthrobots in repairing damaged tissues.
Anthrobots epitomize an exemplification of synthetic biobot technology, emblematic of myriad potential applications in the realms of biomedical and bioengineering. The morphological diversity underscored by Anthrobots connotes inherent adaptability and customization tailored to specific tasks. As a corollary, envisioning the future, Anthrobots stand poised to assume a pivotal role in the remediation of diseased tissues, the facilitation of drug delivery, and diverse other applications within the biomedical domain.
Author: Zehra Nur Koyuncu
Editor: Elif Duymaz
Reference: Gumuskaya, G., Srivastava, P., Cooper, B. G., Lesser, H., Semegran, B., Garnier, S., & Levin, M. (2023). Motile Living Biobots Self-Construct from Adult Human Somatic Progenitor Seed Cells.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), e2303575. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202303575
– Bioinfocodes Scientific News Service –
News articles prepared by our team members, reviewing and compiling scientific research published in journals with an impact factor greater than 20 (click here for the list).