Japanese scientists grow living, self-healing human skin that can be put on robots

• Scientists have developed living human skin for robots that looks and moves like real skin. The skin is also capable of self-repair and repelling water.
• In a study published by the journal Matter on Thursday, researchers at the University of Tokyo explained their method of using a coating of skin tissue on robot fingers.
• The research team hopes to use their development in aiding those in need of prosthetics or cosmetic and pharmaceutical skin development.
• The researchers are now studying how to make the skin tissue survive for longer as well as creating more advanced features such as hair follicles and sweat glands.

A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo developed living skin tissue coatings for robots that can perform basic functions such as self-healing and repelling water.

In a study published on Thursday by the journal Matter, lead author and engineer Takeuchi Shoji and a team of researchers revealed the development of human skin tissue for robots using “a coating material.” The coating is able to mimic the appearance and movement of human skin.

When crafting the skin tissue, the researchers first submerged the robot’s finger into a cylinder filled with a mixture of the human skin’s main components: collagen and fibroblasts. By using living skin cells for the coating, the robot’s skin was able to perform basic biological functions such as self-repair and repelling water.

“Inspired by the medical treatments of deeply burned skin using grafted hydrogels, repair treatment was performed by applying an acellular collagen sheet on an intentionally made wound at the center of the planar-shaped dermis equivalent or on the dorsal surface of the robotic finger,” the study explained.

Takeuchi explained that the skin is made up of the top two layers of human skin — the epidermis and dermis — and is around 1.5 mm thick. Although the skin does not feature sweat glands and hair follicles, it is able to move as human skin would.

“However, as the robot moves, the skin stretches and contracts, revealing wrinkles; my personal impression is that it is much more realistic than silicone,” Takeuchi told Insider.

He also pointed out that the robot skin is weaker in comparison to human skin as it is in constant need of nutrients and waste removal. Takeuchi and his team are now studying ways to make the robot skin tissue last longer and include more advanced working skin features such as hair follicles, sweat glands and sensory neurons.

The researchers are hoping to use their findings as a way to help engineers develop more human-like prosthetics and “biohybrid robots that have a combination of living materials and artificial materials.”

“I think living skin is the ultimate solution to give robots the look and touch of living creatures since it is exactly the same material that covers animal bodies,” Takeuchi told The Guardian.

Support our Journalism with a Contribution

Many people might not know this, but despite our large and loyal following which we are immensely grateful for, NextShark is still a small bootstrapped startup that runs on no outside funding or loans.

Everything you see today is built on the backs of warriors who have sacrificed opportunities to help give Asians all over the world a bigger voice.

However, we still face many trials and tribulations in our industry, from figuring out the most sustainable business model for independent media companies to facing the current COVID-19 pandemic decimating advertising revenues across the board.

We hope you consider making a contribution so we can continue to provide you with quality content that informs, educates and inspires the Asian community.
Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for everyone’s support. We love you all and can’t appreciate you guys enough.