From passive to intelligent: Bioengineered organs meet Electronics

Bioengineered organs are no longer just structural substitutes. A review published in Trends in Biotechnology introduces a groundbreaking concept: biohybrid-engineered tissue (BHET) platforms – living constructs integrated with electronics that can monitor, modulate, and even autonomously control their own functions.

Traditional bioengineered organs have been limited in their ability to replicate the complex and dynamic nature of human organs. BHET platforms aim to change that by turning passive constructs into intelligent systems.

These systems have already shown promise in diverse applications: brain organoids learning through neural feedback, cardiac tissues synchronizing contractions with external pacing, and engineered ? cells releasing insulin in response to electrical signals.

Such platforms blur the line between biology and machine, turning tissues into responsive and programmable devices.

The review also explores future directions, including AI-driven control systems, conductive hydrogel electrodes, and scalable 3D bioprinting techniques that can bring intelligent tissue platforms closer to clinical applications.

Image source: POSTECH.