Scientists have developed ‘anthrobots,’ tiny robots made from human tracheal cells, capable of repairing damaged neural tissue. This advancement in tissue engineering, led by developmental biologist Michael Levin at Tufts University, marks a significant step towards personalized medicine. Unlike their predecessors, ‘xenobots’ made from frog cells, anthrobots self-assemble and are derived from human cells, enhancing their medical applicability.
The team cultivated human tracheal skin cells into spheroids, which, after a specific growth process, featured cilia on their exteriors. These cilia acted like oars, enabling the anthrobots to swim in various patterns. In a key experiment, these anthrobots fused into a ‘superbot’ and successfully healed a layer of scratched neural tissue within three days, without any genetic modification.
This surprising capability of the anthrobot cells to repair without genetic alteration was noted by study co-author Gizem Gumuskaya. The potential applications of anthrobots are vast, ranging from clearing arteries and delivering drugs to sustainable construction and space exploration. Levin and his team envision a future where anthrobots, possibly made from a patient’s own tissue, could play a significant role in regenerative medicine, including limb regrowth.
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