Papers
5
Total Citations
308
H-Index
5
About
Y. Hiratsuka is a pioneer in biohybrid robotics, specializing in the construction of molecular-scale machines that blur the line between biology and engineering. Their research focuses on developing functional actuators and robots powered by biomolecular motors—specifically, harnessing proteins like actomyosin to create artificial muscles. Hiratsuka’s most celebrated work, the 2017 paper "Micrometer-sized molecular robot changes its shape in response to signal molecules" (182 citations), achieved a landmark in bioinspired robotics by demonstrating an amoeba-like robot that could sense and morph in response to chemical cues. This breakthrough laid the foundation for subsequent innovations, including a printable active network actuator (2021, 71 citations) and in situ integrated microrobots driven by artificial muscles (2022, 37 citations). More recently, Hiratsuka has advanced the field by characterizing the contractile properties of molecular artificial muscles for biohybrid systems (2024) and developing macroscale collagen-actomyosin hybrid actuators from bioderived materials (2023). With a growing citation impact, Hiratsuka’s work is driving the transition from theoretical nanoscale devices to practical, scalable bio-actuators, offering transformative potential for microsurgery, micro-object manipulation, and soft robotics.
Research Focus
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