Artificial muscles made from polymers can now be powered by energy from glucose and oxygen, just like biological muscles. This advance may be a step on the way to implantable artificial muscles or autonomous microrobots powered by biomolecules in their surroundings.
The motion of our muscles is powered by energy that is released when glucose and oxygen take part in biochemical reactions. In a similar way, manufactured actuators can convert energy to motion, but the energy in this case comes from other sources, such as electricity. Scientists at Linköping University wanted to develop artificial muscles that act more like biological muscles. They have now, in a study published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials, demonstrated the principle using artificial muscles powered by the same glucose and oxygen as our bodies use.
The researchers have used an electroactive polymer, polypyrrole, which changes volume when an electrical current is passed. The artificial muscle, known as a “polymer actuator”, consists of three layers: a thin membrane layer between two layers of electroactive polymer. This design has been used in the field for many years. It works by the material on one side of the membrane acquiring a positive electrical charge and ions being expelled, causing it to shrink. At the same time, the material on the other side acquires a negative electrical charge and ions are inserted, which causes the material to expand. The changes in volume cause the actuator to bend in one direction, in the same way that a muscle contracts.
No battery needed
The electrons that cause motion in artificial muscles normally come from an external source, such as a battery. But batteries suffer from several obvious drawbacks: they are usually heavy, and need to be charged regularly. The scientists behind the study decided instead to use the technology behind bioelectrodes, which can convert chemical energy into electrical energy with the aid of enzymes. They have used naturally occurring enzymes, integrating them into the polymer.
“These enzymes convert glucose and oxygen, in the same way as in the body, to produce the electrons required to power motion in an artificial muscle made from an electroactive polymer. No source of voltage is required: it’s enough simply to immerse the actuator into a solution of glucose in water”, says Edwin Jager, senior lecturer in Sensor and Actuator Systems, in the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology at Linköping University. Together with Anthony Turner, professor emeritus, he has led the study.
Just as in biological muscles, the glucose is directly converted to motion in the artificial muscles.
“When we had fully integrated enzymes on both sides of the actuator and it actually moved – well, it was just amazing”, says Jose Martinez, a member of the research group.
The next step for the researchers will be to control the biochemical reactions in the enzymes, such that the motion can be reversible for many cycles. They have already demonstrated that the motion is reversible, but they had to use a small trick to do so. Now they want to create a system that is even closer to a biological muscle. The researchers also want to test the concept using other actuators as the “textile muscle”, and apply it in microrobotics.
“Glucose is available in all organs of the body, and it’s a useful substance to start with. But it is possible to switch to other enzymes, which would enable the actuator to be used in, for example, autonomous microrobots for environmental monitoring in lakes. The advances we present here make it possible to power actuators with energy from substances in their natural surroundings”, says Edwin Jager.
Learn more: Artificial muscles powered by glucose
The Latest on: Artificial muscles
[google_news title=”” keyword=”artificial muscles” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Artificial muscles
- Avoid boring tasks and save time with AI and chatbots: Here's howon May 2, 2024 at 6:01 am
Sure, I know how to do that math myself, but it would have taken 30 minutes. No joke, it took me longer to upload the documents than it did for ChatGPT to come up with the answers – about 30 seconds.
- Intel Core Ultra CPU flexes its NPU muscle: AI runs over 500 models optimizedon May 1, 2024 at 7:33 pm
The company issued a press release today, saying that the industry's leading AI PC processor is available right now enabling new AI experiences, immersive graphics and optimal battery life. This ...
- Experts propose ‘lunar Wall of Death’ run for astronaut exerciseon May 1, 2024 at 9:56 am
Running for a short duration around the wall generated enough lateral force to counteract muscle and bone wasting in lunar environment.
- Harnessing Myokines To Preserve Muscle Power As We Ageon April 30, 2024 at 11:00 am
Muscles are the engine of the body. But with age, we begin to lose muscle mass, leading to frailty and reduced mobility. Proteins called myokines may provide a solution.
- The Healthiest Protein Powderson April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Muscle gain. As mentioned above ... This powder doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients. Peanut butter, rocky road, and vanilla are just a few of the amazing flavors. Get bigger and recover faster ...
- Is Artificial Protein Powder Killing You Or Building You? All You Need To Knowon April 28, 2024 at 11:00 am
While none was directly related to intake of protein powders or supplements, those huge jars of artificial nutrition definitely have ... Protein powder is like fuel for your muscles. It helps in ...
- Built-in bionic computing: Researchers develop method to control pneumatic artificial muscleson April 26, 2024 at 9:08 am
Creating robots to safely aid disaster victims is one challenge; executing flexible robot control that takes advantage of the material's softness is another. The use of pliable soft materials to ...
- As Meta Flexes AI Muscles, Is It Finding New Business Opportunities?on April 25, 2024 at 10:37 am
The published version of Forbes’ CIO newsletter delivers the latest news for chief innovation officers and other technology-focused leaders to inboxes every Thursday.
- Artificial intelligence can evaluate cardiovascular risk during CT scanon April 24, 2024 at 7:25 am
A recent study designed and implemented by investigators at Cedars-Sinai found that artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately evaluate cardiovascular risk during a routine chest computed tomography ...
- Meet your new IT superhero: Citizen developers flex their AI muscleson April 22, 2024 at 11:06 am
IT functions are increasingly being delivered and maintained by hybrid pros with one foot in the business and the other in technology.
via Bing News