In 2014, researchers at the University of Illinois achieved a groundbreaking feat by creating a microscopic swimming robot, but what truly set it apart was its composition—cardiac muscle cells derived from rats. This innovation was among the first “biohybrid robots,” blending biological components with mechanical systems, challenging the traditional notion of robots as non-living, metal-based entities.

Two years later, Harvard researchers expanded on this concept, creating a 16-millimeter biohybrid “animal” resembling a stingray. With an elastomer body, a gold skeleton, and rat muscle cells, this creature glided through water, powered and guided by light. Since then, biohybrid robots have evolved, with recent advancements including a robot that walks with a human-like gait and a robotic hand equipped with biological neural networks.

Biohybrid robots are constructed by combining living tissues with synthetic materials, such as muscle cells for movement, neurons for control, and sensory cells for touch. These robots capitalize on millions of years of biological evolution, offering unique advantages like self-healing, adaptability, and enhanced sensory resolution. However, as the line between living organisms and machines blurs, ethical questions arise.

Dr. Rafael Mestre from the University of Southampton, along with an international team of ethicists, has been exploring the potential ethical ramifications of biohybrid robots. They pose a thought-provoking scenario: what happens when biohybrid systems evolve into full-sized robots that perform complex, lifelike actions using muscle tissue and neuromuscular systems? As these robots become increasingly complex, people may question whether they can feel pain or possess consciousness, raising concerns about how we should interact with them.

While this scenario remains speculative, the integration of biohybrid systems is steadily advancing. Researchers foresee biohybrid robotic arms that use actual muscle tissue and are controlled by human nerves, as well as biohybrid organs that could surpass the capabilities of natural organs. For patients in need of transplants or prosthetics, these innovations could be life-changing. However, the high cost of this cutting-edge technology raises concerns about accessibility, potentially limiting these advancements to wealthy individuals and developed countries.

Dr. Arthur Caplan, a bioethics expert from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, underscores the importance of addressing these ethical issues early. He emphasizes the need for diverse study populations, ensuring that advanced technologies benefit all sectors of society. Additionally, researchers must prepare for potential failures in biohybrid systems and carefully consider whether limited research resources should be allocated to developing biohybrid organs or used to address the root causes of conditions that necessitate such technologies.

Philosophically, biohybrid robots reinforce a long-held idea that humans and other living beings function as complex machines, albeit with organic rather than inorganic parts. As biohybrid technology advances, it offers a platform for understanding life itself, opening the door to the possibility of building living beings from scratch.

While biohybrid robotics promises remarkable breakthroughs, Mestre and his team stress the urgency of contemplating the ethical and societal impacts now. Only by preparing for these challenges can we ensure that the rise of biohybrid robots is a success rather than a cautionary tale.

By Impact Lab