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About

Massimo Barbaro is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of flexible electronics and biohybrid robotics. His work primarily focuses on developing organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) for sensing applications and creating next-generation biohybrid machines that integrate biological tissues with soft robotic systems. Barbaro’s major contributions include demonstrating how organic transistors on flexible plastic substrates can function as mechanical sensors, responding to bending and pressure—a foundational step toward artificial robotic skin. His most cited work, “Organic Bendable and Stretchable Field Effect Devices for Sensing Applications” (2013, 26 citations), established key principles for using mechanical deformation to induce morphological changes in OFETs. More recently, Barbaro has pioneered the use of bioengineered skeletal muscle tissue to power monolithic biohybrid flexure mechanisms (2025, 9 citations), offering a scalable alternative to traditional soft robotic actuators. He has also developed electrical current stimulators for controlling these biohybrid systems. With additional contributions to inkjet-printed OFET matrices and chemical sensors, Barbaro’s work bridges materials science and biomedical engineering, advancing technologies for wearable health monitoring and biologically inspired robotics.