Human Cell-Based Microscopic Robots Show Promise in Regenerative Medicine

Researchers from Tufts University and Harvard University's Wyss Institute have created tiny biological robots they call Anthrobots from human tracheal cells. These minute robots, ranging from the width of a human hair to the tip of a pencil, self-assemble and have demonstrated a remarkable ability to promote the growth of neurons in damaged regions within a lab dish.

Published in Advanced Science, the study reveals that these multicellular Anthrobots can be created from adult human cells without genetic modification, offering a potential therapeutic avenue for regeneration, healing, and disease treatment. The research builds upon earlier work with Xenobots, created from frog embryo cells, and extends the capabilities beyond what was observed with their amphibian counterparts.

The Anthrobots, derived from tracheal cells, were observed to move across a surface of human neurons in a lab dish, encouraging new growth to fill gaps caused by cell layer scratching. The  team found that the Anthrobots, without genetic modifications, could move independently and stimulate neuron growth across damaged regions.

The study opens up possibilities for using patient-derived biobots as therapeutic tools, utilizing the patient's cells to avoid immune responses. The Anthrobots, lasting only a few weeks before breaking down, can be easily re-absorbed into the body after completing their healing tasks. Their limited survival outside specific laboratory conditions ensures no unintended exposure or spread.

Anthrobots, starting as single cells from the trachea, spontaneously formed multicellular structures with cilia acting like oars, driving their movement. These dynamic structures displayed various shapes and movements, offering a platform for potential applications responding to their environment and performing functions in the body or assisting in tissue engineering.

In a lab test, Anthrobots demonstrated their healing potential by efficiently bridging gaps in live neural tissue, encouraging substantial regrowth of neurons. The researchers foresee broader applications, including clearing plaque in arteries, repairing spinal cord or retinal nerve damage, recognizing bacteria or cancer cells, and delivering targeted drug therapies.