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About

Silvia Antona is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of bioinspired robotics and microfluidics, with a focus on engineering soft, life-like systems for biomedical applications. Her most impactful work lies in the development of electrically driven, microengineered bioinspired soft robots, where she integrates living cardiac muscle actuators with hierarchically structured scaffolds to create self-actuating, biomimetic movements. This breakthrough, published in *Advanced Materials* (2018, 192 citations), has set a new benchmark for merging biological tissues with synthetic materials to achieve unprecedented control and realism in soft robotics. In parallel, Antona has made significant strides in drug delivery through her work on microfluidic production of biofunctionalized giant unilamellar vesicles (2020, 82 citations), enabling targeted intracellular cargo delivery with high precision. Her research not only advances fundamental understanding of membrane-based processes but also offers scalable solutions for therapeutic applications. Recognized for her innovative approach, Antona’s work bridges engineering and biology, inspiring new generations of researchers to explore the potential of biohybrid systems.