biohybride

Biohybride, or biohybrid, refers to systems that integrate living biological components with non-biological, synthetic, or engineered elements to achieve functions that neither component could perform alone. The term encompasses devices, materials, and platforms that couple cells, tissues, or organisms with artificial substrates, electronics, or polymers.

Biohybrid systems typically combine biological materials with engineered supports or actuators. Common approaches include growing living cells or tissues on biocompatible scaffolds, interfacing cells with microelectronic sensors, and embedding biological processes within synthetic housings. Techniques from tissue engineering, microfabrication, and synthetic biology are used to control interfaces, signal transduction, and functionality.

Examples of biohybrids appear across several domains. Biohybrid actuators use muscle tissue or other living tissues to drive soft robots or mechanical systems, offering programmable, energy-efficient movement. Biohybrid sensors rely on cellular or microbial activity to detect chemical, thermal, or optical stimuli. In energy and environmental contexts, photosynthetic organisms or enzymes are integrated with electrodes to harvest light-driven or biochemical energy. Medical research employs organ-on-a-chip and other microphysiological systems that combine living tissue with microfabricated environments to model human biology.

Benefits of biohybride systems include potential improvements in efficiency, adaptability, and biocompatibility. Challenges involve maintaining viability and control of living components, ensuring stability and safety, addressing biosafety and ethical concerns, and developing scalable manufacturing and regulatory frameworks. The field is interdisciplinary, spanning biology, engineering, materials science, and medicine.