Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering: From Tissue Regeneration to Biorobotics

With its remarkable adaptability, energy efficiency, and mechanical compliance, skeletal muscle is a powerful source of inspiration for innovations in engineering and robotics. Originally driven by the clinical need to address large irreparable muscle defects, skeletal muscle tissue engineering (SMTE) has evolved into a versatile strategy reaching beyond medical applications into the field of biorobotics. This review highlights recent advancements in SMTE, including innovations in scaffold design, cell sourcing, usage of external physicochemical cues, and bioreactor technologies. Furthermore, this article explores the emerging synergies between SMTE and robotics, focusing on the use of robotic systems to enhance bioreactor performance and the development of biohybrid devices integrating engineered muscle tissue. These interdisciplinary approaches aim to improve functional recovery outcomes while inspiring novel biohybrid technologies at the intersection of engineering and regenerative medicine.