Medical News Observer

Key points

• Anthrobots, developed by Tufts and Harvard researchers, are tiny robots created from human tracheal cells capable of autonomous movement.
• These biobots demonstrate abilities to stimulate neuron growth, repair neural damage, and show potential for various biomedical applications.
• Anthrobots, with diverse shapes and movements, operate without genetic modification, making them suitable for patient-specific therapeutic uses.

Researchers at Tufts and Harvard Universities have developed tiny biological robots named Anthrobots from human tracheal cells. These robots, varying in size, can move across surfaces and have shown the ability to stimulate neuron growth across damaged areas in lab dishes.

This innovation builds on previous research by Michael Levin at Tufts University and Josh Bongard at the University of Vermont, where they created Xenobots from frog embryo cells, capable of various tasks including self-healing and limited replication. In the current study, researchers demonstrate that similar robots can be made from adult human cells without genetic modifications, expanding their potential applications.

Anthrobots

Anthrobots are created from adult human tracheal cells featuring hair-like projections called cilia that enable movement. When grown in lab conditions, these cells spontaneously form organoids, which the researchers manipulated using the cilia to move. The Anthrobots exhibit various shapes and movements and can last 45-60 days before biodegrading. 

The research study reveals a significant correlation between the Anthrobots’ behavioral and morphological diversity. These biobots can take on various shapes, including spherical or ellipsoidal, and have bodies that are either fully polarized or wholly covered with cilia. Each shape and cilia arrangement corresponds to a specific type of movement. Notably, the Anthrobots have demonstrated the ability to traverse and significantly aid in rapidly repairing scratches in cultured human neural cell sheets. This suggests potential biomedical applications.

Significance

This innovation is significant for its potential therapeutic applications, as demonstrated in a lab test where Anthrobots encouraged neuron growth in a damaged neural layer. Their ability to function without triggering immune responses or requiring genetic modifications makes them suitable for patient-specific treatments. The research team envisions various applications, including clearing arterial plaque, repairing nerve damage, and drug delivery. 

Reference

Gumuskaya, Gizem, Pranjal Srivastava, Ben G. Cooper, Hannah Lesser, Ben Semegran, Simon Garnier, and Michael Levin. n.d. “Motile Living Biobots Self-Construct from Adult Human Somatic Progenitor Seed Cells.” Advanced Science n/a (n/a): 2303575. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202303575.