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Illinois IGB

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Art of Science Gallery 03

aos03_01
Bio-bot on the move

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera

Image provided by Vincent Chan, Rashid Bashir Lab



Research funded by the National Science Foundation



This centimeter-long bio-bot was made with a 3-D printer out of flexible polymer and living heart cells. The cells beat together, creating a contracting and releasing motion that inches the bot forward. Researchers would like to make smarter bio-bots that could assist in surgery, or find and neutralize toxins or parasites.