Cyberplasm is a multi-cellular micro-robot being developed by British and American researchers with the principles of synthetic biology.
It will combine biomimicry of some of a sea lamprey's behaviors with engineered cellular devices, electronics, and new methods of communicating between biological and electronic components. If this artificial organism looked like a human, we'd call it an android.
Perhaps the most amazing part of this research is the tightly coupled integration and communication the researchers want to design in between the micro-bot's electronic and biological components. On the cellular level, the team will integrate certain gene parts into bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells so they can perform functions usually done by electronic devices. Bacteria and cells will be simplified so they can more easily communicate with electronic devices.
The Cyberplasm micro-robot will combine engineered cellular devices, electronics, and new methods of communicating between biological and electronic components, such as between muscles and the nervous system. (Source: Cyberplasm Project)
The researchers will then develop I/O mechanisms so the engineered cells and bacteria can interface to the 'bot's electronics. This will be done using genetic engineering to change the way cells and bacteria operate so their data can be read by electronics.
The 1-mm long Cyberplasm's microprocessor will generate signals that drive the robot's engineered synthetic muscles, derived from mouse cells, which will mimic the snake-like movements of a sea lamprey. Engineered synthetic sensors derived from yeast cells will detect signals from the 'bot's environment, which will then be processed by its electronic nervous system. The electronics will be powered by an internal microbial fuel cell.
The micro-bot's muscle cells will be engineered for the minimum of cellular machinery needed for functioning. Muscles will be powered like biological cells, using mitochondria to convert glucose to ATP, combining actuation with power generation. The 'bot will be equipped with chemical-detecting and light-detecting sensors.
The resarch team has two basic purposes for creating Cyberplasm. The first is fundamental research in the integration of bacteria into fuel cells, as well as the integration of yeast and mammal cells into biologically engineered sensor and actuator devices. There are also several longer-term applications. In healthcare, the sensing abilities of such tiny machines could be useful in drug delivery systems and biosensors. Cyberplasm's underwater chemical sensing abilities could also be used to detect mines and other unexploded ordnance, or find pollutants.
With funding from the National Science Foundation, the team is still defining the robot's individual components. It may take another five years to optimize the subsystems and integrate them all into one working system. The research team includes Christopher Voigt, associate professor of biological engineering at MIT; Daniel Frankel, a chemical engineer at Newcastle University; Joseph Ayers, professor of neurophysiology at Northeastern University; Yong-Bin Kim, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University; and Vladimir Parpura, associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Hi Ann, Biosynthetic Micro-Robot research seems quite interesting based on your article. It's truly fascinating when electronics and biology are integrated to create these wonderful autonomous cells for the benefit it aiding the human body, for example drug delivery. The application of pollutants monitoring is quite interesting because of the micron level being engaged with these small biosynthetic machines. Who knows, allergies may become a thing of the past if such micro-machines can be used to eliminate their nose reactive bacteria. Great article as always Ann!
Thanks, mrdon. Allergies, eh? I hadn't thought of that in re this robot and drug delivery. Sounds like a great idea!--I suffer from them year-round. Right now, it's mold season in the redwoods, last week it was still dust and pollen season.
Hi Ann, Mold is a pesky little bacteria that can use some biosynthetic micro-robot cleansing. Also, cancer researchers may be able to put these robots to good use as well.
Sounds like some pretty radical foundational technology that could have huge impact across a wide variety of applications. The biomickry stuff you've been writing about is pretty amazing. But I have to ask: What is a sea lamprey?
Hi Beth, A sea lamprey looks an eel that attaches to fish with a suction mouth embedded with razor sharp teeth. Here's a wikipedia link with addtional information about them.
Hi Beth, No sure about the cell to cell communication but I envision the movement of the biosynthetic micro-robot to be that of the sea lamprey which is a long side to side propulsion of travel. Just guessing!
Beth, mrdon is right: the lamprey was chosen for its swimming motions that the robot will emulate. Cell-to-cell communication is a project goal, and not particularly related to the choice of animal model.
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