Marino Arroyo

International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Marino Arroyo is a researcher working at the intersection of computational mechanics, biophysics, and soft robotics, with a focus on understanding and engineering the mechanical behavior of living and synthetic materials. His work spans the mechanics of biological tissues, cellular self-organization, and the design of programmable soft structures. Among his most notable contributions is his research on cellular nematics — living tissues capable of collective self-organization — which he has helped harness to engineer shape-programmable living surfaces. This work, appearing in high-profile venues and already accumulating citations despite its recency, represents a significant step toward synthetic morphogenesis and biologically inspired soft robotics. By bridging the physics of liquid crystal ordering in cellular systems with mechanical design principles, Arroyo's group has opened pathways for materials that autonomously morph into predetermined shapes. His work also extends to soft robotic actuators, including rigorous mechanical modeling of McKibben artificial muscles — helical fiber tubular structures whose nonlinear, robust responses make them attractive for engineering applications. Together, Arroyo's contributions demonstrate a distinctive ability to connect fundamental physical modeling with transformative applications in biomechanics and advanced materials design.