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Bionics and Transduction Science

Picture of textile muscles

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 dayGroup 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.
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Electroactive surfaces and scaffolds

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

2025

Carin Backe, Jose Gabriel Martinez Gil, Li Guo, Cedric Plesse, Edwin Jager, Nils-Krister Persson (2025) Woven, In-Air, Textile Actuators by Conjugated Polymers and Solid-State Electrolyte Tape Yarns ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Mathis Bruns, Shayan Mehraeen, Jose Gabriel Martinez Gil, Chokri Cherif, Edwin Jager (2025) PEDOT/Polypyrrole Core-Sheath Fibers for Use as Conducting Polymer Artificial Muscles ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2024

Elisabet Henell, Judith Weda, Sophia Cedermalm, Linnea Eklov, Marta Hakansson, Jesper Nordstrom, Marit Reibring, Jonas Stålhand, Nils-Krister Persson, Angelika Mader, Jan B. F. van Erp, Edwin Jager (2024) Pressure Stimuli and Spatiotemporal Illusions on the Forearm IEEE Transactions on Haptics, Vol. 17, p. 742-752 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Contact

Head of unit 

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Edwin Jager

Professor, Head of Division

Group members

Photo of Danfeng Cao
Danfeng Cao
Postdoc
Photo of Edwin Jager
Edwin Jager
Professor, Head of Division
Photo of Jose Gabriel Martinez Gil
Jose Gabriel Martinez Gil
Associate Professor, Docent
Photo of Shayan Mehraeen
Shayan Mehraeen
Assistant Professor

More about our research

Male and female researcher in a lab.

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.
Edwin Jager, IFM, along with his co-applicant Nils-Krister Persson at Swedish School of Textiles

Continued funding for textile muscles

Edwin Jager (IFM) along with his co-applicant Nils-Krister Persson (Swedish School of Textiles) recently received the exciting news of continued funding for their project "Textile muscles for augmenting garments" from the Erling-Perssons Foundation.

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

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