This biohybrid hand comprises plastic components and human muscle tissue. — Photo: X. Ren, Y. Morimoto and S. Takeuchi, 2025/Science Robotics
Japanese researchers have developed the first biohybrid hand capable of performing complex gestures using human muscle tissue grown in a laboratory. This could pave the way for unprecedented uses.
Scientists at the University of Tokyo and Waseda University in Japan have succeeded in developing a unique biohybrid hand. The key to this innovation lies in the use of multiple muscle tissue actuators (MuMuTA), hybrid structures combining living tissue and 3D-printed plastic that convert an energy source into mechanical movement or action.
These actuators are capable of contracting and relaxing, mimicking the functions of human muscles to achieve autonomous movement. Organized in a structured way, they can then perform complex gestures, thanks to their ability to contract and coordinate fluidly.
This biohybrid hand is now capable of performing relatively complex gestures, such as the scissor action. In fact, this technology represents a significant advance in the development of future biohybrid limbs, ever more realistic and capable of imitating real human movements.
Future applications of this technology look promising. It could revolutionize the field of biohybrid prostheses, offering amputees the possibility of regaining a much more natural form of mobility than with current prostheses. In the future, this type of innovation could also have a major impact on pharmaceutical testing, in the case of drugs specifically targeting muscle tissue.
Finally, the whole field of robotics could one day benefit from these advances, with the arrival of humanoid robots capable of simulating perfectly and infinitely human movements applied to very specific tasks.
This research is published in the journal Science Robotics. – AFP Relaxnews
