A printable artificial muscle assembled from biomolecular motors,which we have recently developed,showed great potential in overcoming the design limitations of conventional biohybrid robots as a new bioactuator.Chara...A printable artificial muscle assembled from biomolecular motors,which we have recently developed,showed great potential in overcoming the design limitations of conventional biohybrid robots as a new bioactuator.Characterizing its contractility for extending its applicability is important.However,conventional measurement methods are composed of complex operations with poor reproducibility,flexibility,and real-time responsiveness.This study presents a new method for measuring the contractile force generated by artificial muscles.A measurement system was constructed,wherein artificial muscles were patterned by UV laser scanning in an oil-sealed microchamber,and the contractile force was measured in real time using a microforce sensor extended by a 3D-printed microcantilever.The measurement accuracy of the sensor was ensured through calibration and correction.For demonstration purposes,a series of contractile measurements were carried out using the proposed system.The relationship between contractile force and the dimensions of the activation space of the artificial muscles,as well as the tensile properties of the contracted muscle chain were evaluated.The results will help characterize the contractile properties of the artificial muscle and lay the foundations for its further application in biohybrid robotics.展开更多
基金partly funded by KAKENHI(nos.21H05880,21K18700,and 22H04951)New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization(NEDO).
文摘A printable artificial muscle assembled from biomolecular motors,which we have recently developed,showed great potential in overcoming the design limitations of conventional biohybrid robots as a new bioactuator.Characterizing its contractility for extending its applicability is important.However,conventional measurement methods are composed of complex operations with poor reproducibility,flexibility,and real-time responsiveness.This study presents a new method for measuring the contractile force generated by artificial muscles.A measurement system was constructed,wherein artificial muscles were patterned by UV laser scanning in an oil-sealed microchamber,and the contractile force was measured in real time using a microforce sensor extended by a 3D-printed microcantilever.The measurement accuracy of the sensor was ensured through calibration and correction.For demonstration purposes,a series of contractile measurements were carried out using the proposed system.The relationship between contractile force and the dimensions of the activation space of the artificial muscles,as well as the tensile properties of the contracted muscle chain were evaluated.The results will help characterize the contractile properties of the artificial muscle and lay the foundations for its further application in biohybrid robotics.
