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Springy Nanotubes Could Make Artificial Muscles

Posted by kdawson on from the strong-like-bull dept.

moon_monkey writes "Scientists have discovered that carbon nanotubes have remarkable springy properties, which could make them ideal for use in artificial muscles. Currently, electroactive polymers are most commonly used to make artificial muscles, but these lack mechanical robustness. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tested the nanotubes by repeatedly squashing them between metal plates. The work is reported in Nature Nanotechnology."

2 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Grow muscle? by Don_dumb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is there any reason why we can't just grow new muscle fibres outside of the destination body and use those instead of finding a more artifical replacement or do these nano-tubes have an advatange over our tissues?
    Forgive my noobness on tissue replacement but I was under the impression that we were on the verge of 'test-tube organs' and if that is the case why not artificially grown muscle tissue?

    --
    If this were really happening, what would you think?
    1. Re:Grow muscle? by iktos · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Sorry, I was probably too brief. You're of course right regarding prosthetics and it does mention implantation.

      But I think the term "artifical tissue" in this case does not mean the same thing as it usually does, when it's biological in nature like skin and bone replacements which either becomes part of the recipient or allows own new cells to grow in place. A plastic actuator seems to be something quite different.