Native Tissues
Elastosens™ Bio Applications
Native biological tissues—such as cartilage, skin, blood vessels, brain, and muscle—are complex, water-rich structures whose mechanical behavior is inherently viscoelastic. Rather than behaving purely like solids or liquids, they exhibit time-dependent responses that arise from the interaction between extracellular matrix components, interstitial fluids, and living cells. This viscoelastic nature governs how tissues deform, absorb energy, and recover under physiological conditions such as compression, shear, and cyclic loading.
Measuring the viscoelastic properties of native tissues is essential in the biomedical field. Mechanical characterization helps differentiate healthy and diseased states, supports the development of biomaterials and tissue-engineered constructs, and guides medical device design. By quantifying parameters such as storage and loss moduli, researchers can better understand tissue function, monitor pathological changes, and design therapies that more closely replicate or restore natural biomechanics.
Applications on Native Tissues
Adipose tissue is more than a passive fat reservoir — it plays structural, protective, metabolic, and endocrine roles in the human body. Its mechanical properties, shaped by the cellular and extracellular matrix components, influence how fat stores expand, protect organs, and interact with surrounding tissues. These properties also affect how adipose tissue responds to external forces, from surgical manipulation to metabolic stress.
The skin is not only the body’s largest organ but also a dynamic mechanical barrier that protects against environmental stress, regulates water balance, and contributes to sensory perception. Its function depends heavily on the structural organization of collagen, elastin, and other dermal components, which together give rise to unique mechanical behaviors such as elasticity, stiffness, and viscoelasticity. Measuring these properties provides insight into how skin responds to forces in daily life, from stretching and compression to shear.
The breast is a heterogeneous organ composed of adipose, glandular, fibrous tissues, skin, and connective elements such as Cooper’s ligaments. Each of these components contributes to its structural integrity and physiological roles, from supporting lactation to maintaining shape and mobility. The mechanical properties of breast tissue—such as elasticity, stiffness, and viscoelasticity—reflect its microstructure and composition, and they vary with age, hormonal state, and health status.
The mechanical characterization of biological soft membranes such as skin, pericardium, or hydrogel-based samples is challenging and often results in sample damage. The Membrane Sample Holder of the ElastoSens™ Bio has been designed for facilitating the loading and the handling of membrane samples allowing proper mechanical testing. In this study, the elasticity of bovine pericardium membranes were precisely measured using the ElastoSens™ Bio...
Mechanical Testing for Native Tissues
ElastoSens™ Bio enables real-time, non-contact mechanical characterization of native tissues. Tissue samples can be placed directly into the available sample holders (macro, micro, or membrane) and tested with minimal preparation, while temperature and environmental conditions are precisely controlled to preserve their native properties. Mechanical parameters are displayed instantly on the tablet, providing immediate and quantitative insight into tissue viscoelasticity and functional state.
In this example, samples from porcine and ovine hearts were punched and placed directly into the macro-volume sample holder for a 1-minute test. Porcine heart tissue exhibited a higher shear storage modulus (G′ = 7.8 ± 1.3 kPa) compared to ovine (4.1 ± 1.3 kPa), indicating greater stiffness and elastic energy storage.
Scientists can now characterize native tissues to distinguish healthy from diseased states and evaluate new therapies—using a gentle technology that preserves the complex microstructure directly linked to tissue function.
Benefits of Contact-Free, Non-Invasive Measurements with the Elastosens™ Bio
- Non-destructively measure the viscoelastic properties of native tissues, from soft organs to thin membranes and biopsies.
- Apply controlled thermal and environmental conditions to study tissue behavior under physiologically relevant stimuli.
- Monitor the same sample over time to evaluate structural or functional changes without damage.
- Access advanced Soft Matter Analytics™ for reliable and in-depth biomechanical insights.
- Improve repeatability while accelerating research and quality control workflows.
- Work in a sterile, cell-friendly environment with an intuitive system designed for biologists and clinicians.
- Benefit from a modular, scalable solution tailored to your laboratory needs and budget.