Robotics-assisted modular assembly of bioactive soft materials for enhanced organ fabrication

Abstract

Tissue engineering, an interdisciplinary field, aims to restore, maintain, or enhance tissue function by developing biological substitutes. To establish an optimal microenvironment, biofabrication is acknowledged as a revolutionary technology facilitating the construction of multiscale three-dimensional architectures utilising various living cells and biomaterials. A critical challenge in this domain is the precise assembly of soft matter-delicate and pliable tissue structures - essential for creating functional tissues and organs. This review focuses on the increasing use of robotic systems to address this challenge, exploring their application in manipulating soft matter for tissue assembly. Robotic technologies offer innovative solutions for handling soft matter with precision and control. This review discusses how robotic systems can be leveraged to fabricate complex organs, detailing their role in replicating the structural and functional complexities of natural tissues. Further, by examining the latest advancements in robotics-assisted tissue engineering, this review highlights the potential of robotics to revolutionise organ fabrication, offering promising solutions to longstanding challenges in this field. These technological advancements hold the capacity to engineer functional tissues and organs, presenting considerable translational potential for clinical applications.

Keywords

• Tissue engineering
• soft matter manipulation
• robotics in tissue assembly