# Actomyosin-Based Nanodevices for Sensing and Actuation: Bridging Biology and Bioengineering

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how actomyosin, a natural biological engine, can be used in nanotechnology for sensing and actuation in bioengineering applications.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the unique scalability and biocompatibility of actomyosin for bio-integrated nanotechnology.

## Key findings

- Actomyosin systems respond to biochemical and physical cues, making them suitable for biosensing and actuation.
- Actomyosin can be integrated into in vitro motility assays, soft robotics, and neural interface systems.
- Actomyosin-based devices can convert environmental signals into measurable outputs for clinical and scientific use.

## Abstract

The actomyosin complex—nature’s dynamic engine composed of actin filaments and myosin motors—is emerging as a versatile tool for bio-integrated nanotechnology. This review explores the growing potential of actomyosin-powered systems in biosensing and actuation applications, highlighting their compatibility with physiological conditions, responsiveness to biochemical and physical cues and modular adaptability. We begin with a comparative overview of natural and synthetic nanomachines, positioning actomyosin as a uniquely scalable and biocompatible platform. We then discuss experimental advances in controlling actomyosin activity through ATP, calcium, heat, light and electric fields, as well as their integration into in vitro motility assays, soft robotics and neural interface systems. Emphasis is placed on longstanding efforts to harness actomyosin as a biosensing element—capable of converting chemical or environmental signals into measurable mechanical or electrical outputs that can be used to provide valuable clinical and basic science information such as functional consequences of disease-associated genetic variants in cardiovascular genes. We also highlight engineering challenges such as stability, spatial control and upscaling, and examine speculative future directions, including emotion-responsive nanodevices. By bridging cell biology and bioengineering, actomyosin-based systems offer promising avenues for real-time sensing, diagnostics and therapeutic feedback in next-generation biosensors.