Scientists at Harvard University have developed a cyborg-like tissue that can facilitate cell growth, while simultaneously measuring the ongoing activity and status of those cells. They did so by embedding a three-dimensional network of functional, biocompatible, nanoscale wires into engineered human tissues. The breakthrough could have implications for the future of drug testing and regenerative medicine.
An ongoing problem in the field of tissue engineering has been in getting biomaterials to monitor or interact with changes around them. Normal human tissue can sense chemical and electrical changes, such as pH, chemistry, oxygen, and other factors, and then trigger an autonomic response. Materials scientists have struggled to find a way to mimic these feedback loops and maintain control at the cellular and tissue level.
But by creating nanoscale “scaffolds” that can be seeded with cells that grow into tissue, the Harvard scientists believe they’ve made a big leap in overcoming the problem. In essence, the team was able to merge tissue with electronics to create a hybridized, cyborg-like material.