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Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes

Published on: February 28, 2020

Miniaturized wireless bioelectronics for electrically driven biohybrid robots.

Hiroyuki Tetsuka¹, Jiaju Ma², Minoru Hirano²

¹Bioinspired Systems Research-Domain, Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc., 41-1 Yokomichi, Nagakute, 480-1192, Aichi, Japan. h-tetsuka@mosk.tytlabs.co.jp.

Scientific Reports

|July 2, 2026

Summary

Researchers developed a miniaturized, wireless bioelectronic stimulator for biohybrid robots. This device enables untethered operation in cell culture, driving muscle actuation for autonomous locomotion.

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

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Bridging the Bio-Electronic Interface with Biofabrication

Bridging the Bio-Electronic Interface with Biofabrication

Published on: June 6, 2012

Area of Science:

Biohybrid robotics
Bioelectronic interfaces
Soft robotics

Background:

Biohybrid robots offer adaptive actuation using living muscle but face limitations in cell culture due to wired stimulation.
Existing methods require immersed leads or bulky equipment, hindering practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a thin, miniaturized, wireless bioelectronic stimulator for driving biohybrid robots in aqueous cell culture media.
To enable untethered electrical stimulation and control of biohybrid systems.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a 50-µm liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate integrating a receiving coil, rectifier, and electrodes.
Conversion of radio-frequency (RF) input to pulsed direct current (DC) for stimulation.
Integration with a cardiomyocyte-seeded hydrogel fin for propulsion, optimizing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) encapsulation.

Main Results:

The stimulator (32 mm², ~100 µm thick, ~7 mg) wirelessly drove biohybrid robot locomotion in cell culture media.
Achieved autonomous forward propulsion of 74.8 ± 16.4 µm/s via fin flapping.
Demonstrated distance-dependent voltage output and external pacing without compromising cardiomyocyte integrity.

Conclusions:

A compact, media-compatible, wireless bioelectronic stimulator was successfully demonstrated.
This interface advances closed-system biohybrid robotics by enabling untethered, in-situ actuation.
The technology holds potential for future developments in soft robotics and biomedical devices.