In this research, we developed a method to coat a three-dimensional object using "cultured skin", which is a skin tissue produced by proliferating and culturing cells isolated from human skin outside the body, and using this as a robot It is said that it was applied as a covering material.First, when a finger-shaped robot capable of performing joint movement is used as a skeleton and a collagen solution containing dermis cells is cultured around the skeleton, it contracts violently to form a dermis tissue that tightly covers the robot.After that, when epidermal cells are seeded on the entire surface of the dermis tissue and the culture is advanced, a water-repellent epidermal layer is formed, and a cultured skin composed of two layers like the skin in the living body is completed.

　The finger-shaped robot, which is covered with live cell-derived skin, can perform joint movements without destroying the skin, and even if it is injured, it can be repaired by attaching a collagen sheet to the wound.In this study, if a collagen sheet is attached to a cut made on a finger-type robot, dermal cells will move to the collagen sheet and be repaired after about 7 days of culture, and the wound will be able to perform joint movements integrated again. confirmed.

　Robots that now play various roles in our daily lives and collaborate with humans are required to have a soft exterior (skin) with human-like functions in order to protect humans and robots themselves from contact. Has been done.

　The cultured skin technology developed in this research is expected to be used not only for humanoid robots and biohybrid robots, but also for the development of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for the skin, and in the field of regenerative medicine as a transplant material. ..

Paper information:[MATTER] Living skin on a robot