Bionics and Transduction Science

In the BTS unit we do research in the interface between biology, material science, transducers and microsystem technology.

graphic showing the three research areas

Starting from a perspective of application/user needs, we do applied and fundamental research in the areas of microphysiological devices (e.g. lab/organ on a chip), electroactive surfaces for cell biology, soft microactuators and soft microrobotics, and textile actuators and textile exoskeletons.

the image shows the group members outside on a sunny day Group members, Spring 2019

Research projects

Microphysiological Systems

We are developing mechanostimulation chips that can mechanically stimulate single cells. Mechanotransduction pathways in the urinary tract are of special interest to us.

Textile exoskeletons and exoskeletons

By combining advanced textile manufacturing and conducting polymer actuators with have developed novel textile actuators.

Electroactive surfaces and scaffolds

In this project we look into various dynamic surfaces to control cell adhesion, signalling, proliferation and stem cell differentiation.

Soft microactuators and microrobotics

In this project we research on various soft microrobotics, used for development of medical devices such as steerable guide wires and catheters for minimal invasive surgery.

Publications

2026

Jiamin Chen, Amaia Ortega Santos, Satoru Hayano, Ziyi Wang, Jose Gabriel Martinez Gil, Emilio Satoshi Hara, Edwin Jager, Hiroshi Kamioka (2026)

PPy-coated wire actuators for micromechanostimulation of cells - identification of immediate-early responsive mechanoregulatory genes in osteoblasts Bone, Vol. 209, Article 117914 (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2026.117914

Amaia Beatriz Ortega-Santos, Satoru Hayano, Emilio Satoshi Hara, Jose Gabriel Martinez, Hiroshi Kamioka, Edwin W. H. Jager (2026)

PPy‐Coated Wire Actuators for the Micromechanostimulation of Cells: Fabrication and Characterization Small Science, Vol. 6, Article e202500639 (Article in journal)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smsc.202500639

2025

Abd Ul Qadeer, Daito Goto, Shuki Toyoshima, Shayan Mehraeen, Jose Gabriel Martinez, Hidenori Okuzaki, Edwin Jager (2025)

Improvement of textile based actuators by conductive coating Improvement of textile based actuators by conductive coating (Conference paper)

Contact

Head of unit

Group members

Edwin Jager

Professor, Head of Division

Jose Gabriel Martinez Gil

Associate Professor, Docent

Shayan Mehraeen

Assistant Professor

More about our research

New technique can turn a catalytic micro vehicle on or off

Edwin Jager and his team at Linköping University have found a new way of controlling micromotors, making very small vehicles move with bubbles as propulsion.

Pain relief through artificial touch in new research project

Can a garment made from smart textiles relieve long-term pain? This is what researchers in neuroscience, materials science, pain research, textile science and biomechanics are seeking to find out in a new interdisciplinary research project.

Researcher holds a piece of cloth infront of face.

Your clothes will soon be extra muscles

Textile muscles is a young research field. In the long run, the technology can be built into clothes that can give an extra boost during heavy lifting, give hugs at a distance and help the visually impaired navigate the urban environment.

Back to Sensor and Actuator Systems

Sensor and Actuator Systems

Sensor and Actuator Systems (SAS) conducts multidisciplinary research on all areas of transduction sciences from materials for sensors, and systems integration to cell free synthetic biology lab-on-a-chip detection and soft robots.

Skills, collaborations, teaching and funding

Principal techniques and skills

Microfabrication and photolithography
Soft lithography (PDMS)
Conducting polymers: synthesis (chemical, electrochemical), patterning (etching, printing, …)
Electroactive polymers
Electrospinning
Cell interactions/interfacing
Bioelectronics
Medical devices
Electro-mechanical characterisation (various lasers)

Laser Scanner Micrometer

Collaborations

The unit has many local, national and international collaborations from small projects to large scal EU projects. Our main collaborators are:

LiU IKE, Prof. Jan-Ingvar Jönsson
University of Borås, Sweden, Dr. Nils-Krister Persson
Universite de Cergy-Pontoise, France, Prof. Frederic Vidal and Dr. Cedric Plesse
Universiteit Twente, Netherlands, Dr Angelika Mader
University of Wollongong, Australia, Prof Geoff Spinks and Prof. Gursel Alici
Okayama University, Japan, Prof. Hiroshi Kamioka and Dr. Emilio Hara

Teaching

TFYA62 Introduction to biosensor technology
TFTB33 Microsystems and Nano-Biology
TFYY51 - CDIO Y, Med1
TBMT41 - CDIO Medical Technology (Y3 - BSc Project)
Lectures at TBTF40; TFTB34; TFYA63, TTMT19; MEA118/FA228

Funding

H2020-ICT-02
Fam.Erling Persson Foundation
Promobilia 2018-2019
VR 2015- 2018
EU-MSCA – ITN 2015-2018
Ollie & Elof Ericsson 2016, 2017
EU-MSCA-IF 2015-2016
Carl Trygger 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018

Bionics and Transduction Science