Japanese scientists created a hand with living human muscles

Researchers from the University of Tokyo have made a real breakthrough in the field of biohybrid robotics, creating a unique robotic hand functioning with real human muscles grown in laboratory conditions. This innovative development, 18 cm in length, represents a revolutionary combination of living tissues and artificial materials. Surprisingly, the hand is capable of not only moving all five fingers and clenching them, but even performing simple gestures, imitating the popular game "rock-paper-scissors".

The team of scientists led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi applied an innovative approach to creating this biohybrid wonder. They grew the thinnest muscle fibers from human cells, and then skillfully assembled them into special bundles, called MuMuTAs - multiple muscle tissue actuators. These bundles, outwardly resembling rolled sushi, are attached to a 3D-printed plastic base with movable joints. Finger movement is provided by electrical impulses that cause the muscles to contract. However, this technology has an interesting feature: after 10 minutes of active work, the hand gets "tired," similar to a real human hand, and requires about an hour of "rest" in a nutrient medium for full recovery.

The main obstacle in the development of biohybrid robots has traditionally been the weakness of laboratory-grown muscles and their tendency to necrosis - tissue death due to insufficient oxygen supply. Professor Takeuchi found an elegant solution to this problem by using thin fibers instead of massive muscle structures. At this stage, the hand functions only in a liquid environment, however, scientists are confident: this is just the first step towards creating more complex and large-scale biohybrid systems. In the future, such technologies could lead to the development of high-tech prostheses or robots that will most accurately imitate the movements and capabilities of the human body.