
Human tissue over metal endoskeleton
University of Tokyo researchers grew living human skin directly onto a robotic finger, creating a flexible tissue covering that formed natural creases around moving joints. The skin, made from human fibroblasts, keratinocytes and collagen, also demonstrated biologically mediated wound repair, with a collagen graft helping a cut heal within seven days. The advance could eventually enable self-healing biohybrid robots and prosthetic limbs, although the tissue currently requires a wet culture environment. The next challenge is developing microscopic blood vessels so the skin can survive in open air: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/press/z0508_00225.html
Scientists grew living human skin around a robotic finger. The advance brings Terminator-like cyborgs a small step closer to reality: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/robotic-finger-human-skin-self-healing
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMDDKx0JiII
Findings: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590238522002399