Xenobots—emerging as a novel robot evolution from biological cells—have advanced remarkably in a few short years. Just a year after the idea was first conceived, scientists successfully engineered their first multicellular biobots from frog embryos. These bioorganic robots, able to move, record data, collect materials, self-heal, and even replicate for multiple generations, marked a significant leap forward in the field of robotics.
[Related: Meet xenobots, tiny machines made out of living parts.]
Unlike conventional robots made from elements like electronics and metal, bioorganic robots are constructed using genetically altered or reprogrammed cells to form a structure not found naturally in their original organism. Initially, it was unclear whether this methodology could be extended to any species beyond amphibians. However, groundbreaking research is already underway. Scientists have progressed to “anthrobots”—biological machines derived from human tracheal cells.
Recently published in Advanced Science, the new study details the spectacular rise of anthrobots, built from human cells without the need for genetic modification. Anthrobots have shown greater medical promise compared to their amphibian-derived predecessors.
“We wanted to probe what cells can do besides create default features in the body,” explained Gizem Gumuskaya, a PhD candidate and co-author of the study, in a statement on November 30. “By reprogramming interactions between cells, new multicellular structures can be created, analogous to the way stone and brick can be arranged into different structural elements like walls, archways, or columns.”
[Related: Robots built from frog cells have unlocked the ability to self-replicate.]
The November 30 announcement highlighted the labor-intensive construction process required for xenobots. In contrast, anthrobots can self-assemble in laboratory environments and are derived from adult cells instead of embryos.
Each anthrobot began as a single tracheal cell, designed based on the arm-like cilia that clear particles from the lungs. These cells underwent engineered growth in the lab, leading to the formation of organoids and large clusters known as “superbots.” Tracheal cells with different characteristics imparted unique abilities to the anthrobots. Combining this advanced functionality with their self-assembling nature, anthrobots emerged as a powerful tool, including the potential for building engineered tissues.
While anthrobots possess a range of remarkable features, a surprising revelation was the most exciting. When passing over a layer of human neurons growing within the lab petri dish, anthrobots not only scratched their surfaces but also promoted new growth.
“It is fascinating and completely unexpected that normal patient tracheal cells, without modifying their DNA, can move on their own and encourage neuron growth across a region of damage,” said study co-author Michael Levin,
