Molecular motors in a muscle fiber

Figure: Molecular motors in a muscle fiber

Mattia Bacca’s lab studies the interface between soft materials and bionics, focusing on how to control and tune the properties of soft materials so they can interact well with biological cells and tissues. His lab also takes inspiration from biology to produce biomimetic materials that can be incorporated into bionic devices.

By including fast spinning motors that tangle up in the fibers of gels, gels can be made to contract the same way the contraction of fibers inside muscle cells allows for physical shape change of the cell. The same form of chemical energy used by cells can be used to initiate this contraction, allowing this structure to potentially help design bionic cells which act in unison to generate complex, strong motion.