Objective
Millions of years of natural evolution have refined cellular tissues into exceptionally sophisticated materials. Not only they present the widest spectrum of mechanical properties, but they also self-organize, generate forces at different scales, react to external stimuli, and self-heal. Exploiting the unique features of tissues to build biohybrid actuators is thus the new paradigm in soft robotics. Muscular (myo-) tissues, composed of myotubes, are highly contractile and have become the main choice for the design of biohybrid actuators, typically millimetric hydrogel objects embedding muscle cells. Importantly, due to a combination of factors, including a lack of control on myotube growth, poor integration of the myotubes with their environment, or slow nutrient perfusion, artificial muscular tissues have so far displayed significantly low efficiencies compared with natural muscle. Furthermore, current biohybrid actuators hinder both the characterization of myotubes’ architecture and the mapping of forces at the myotube scale. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new approach to prepare biohybrid actuators based on the control of myotube growth at the microscale. First, we propose a platform to grow myotubes with controlled size and shape, and to characterize their contractile behavior. By using this platform, I will be able to investigate the interplay between myotube architecture and force generation. Second, we propose a set of fine-tuned artificial scaffolds, which will guide myotube growth and self-integration, leading to active composites able to generate specific mechanical tasks. Finally, to tame the self-contractility of the active composites, optogenetically-modified myotubes will be incorporated, allowing external actuation with light. This proposal presents a novel experimental toolbox for controlling the shape of myotubes and mapping their forces at the micron scale, both key for designing efficient muscular micro-actuators.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08028 Barcelona
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.