Rod-shaped Tissue Engineered Skeletal Muscle with Artificial Anchors to Utilize as a Bio-Actuator

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Living muscle tissue seems to have an efficient potential as an actuator. We propose to utilize a tissue engineered skeletal muscle (TESM) as a bio-actuator by connecting to the object through artificial anchors. We designed a rod-shaped TESM with artificial anchors and fabricated it by culturing myoblasts in collagen gel for several days. The contractile ability and controllability of the TESM were confirmed by stimulating electrically. The contractions were evoked forcibly and synchronously by electrical pulses under 4.5 Hz. The electrical pulses at 8 Hz kept the contractile state. As potential anchor materials, silicone sponge and nonwoven nylon mesh were examined. The anchors made of nonwoven nylon mesh held a rod-shaped TESM for more than 3 weeks successfully, while the anchors made of silicone sponge held it for only 2-4 days and the TESM broke down at the connecting area. The mechanical endurance between the TESM and the nylon anchors was examined using our original stretching device. No damage was observed from the repeated mechanical loading at 0.5 Hz with 5 % stretch rate for 10 days. We concluded that the TESM has good potential for utilization as a bio-actuator and its abilities can be exploited by connecting it to an object through artificial anchors.