Applications of the ElastoSens™ Bio
in biomaterials and life Sciences
Bringing soft matter to life one application at a time with advanced biomaterials testing and analysis.
The ElastoSens™ Bio helps biologists and material scientists unlock scientific discoveries and technological advancements thanks to advanced features and capabilities to test the mechanical properties of biomaterials.
Discover below how the ElastoSens™ Bio measures without contact and non-destructively the viscoelasticity of forming or degrading hydrogels, bioengineered tissues, hemostatic agents, blood and plasma clots, 3D bioprinted structures and biokins, and much more.
Formulation of hydrogels
ElastoSens Bio tests smarter and gives you the power of Soft Matter Analytics™ to accelerate the formulation and testing of hydrogels. Test the formation, stability and degradation of your material using the same sample, over long periods of time and under fully controled environmental conditions.
Cellularized hydrogels have been widely investigated for producing in vitro models of tissues such as skin, blood vessels, bone, etc. These models can be a valuable alternative to animal models used in trials for studying physio/pathological processes and for testing new drugs and medical devices.
Natural polymers such as collagen, fibrin, chitosan, and agarose exhibit superior biological activity when compared to synthetic materials and so, they are often used to entirely or partially compose hydrogels. The formation of a hydrogel is governed by the development of physical or chemical bonds between the polymeric chains and depends strongly on its formulation. The formulation of a hydrogel includes the selection and dosage of the polymer, solvent and crosslinking agent (when present).
Hydrogels have been widely used in biomedical research for developing engineered tissues and novel treatments such as wound dressings and drug delivery systems. Photo-crosslinkable polymers are an interesting option in the field due to the possibility of tuning its microstructure by regulating the wavelength, intensity and duration of the applied light [1, 2, 3].
Degradation of hydrogels
The ElastoSens™ Bio was used to measure the mechanical properties of different hydrogels during their enzymatically or physically induced degradation. The use of removable sample holders facilitates the study of long term and slow degradation processes.
Tissue engineering
Non-destructive, contact-free viscoelastic testing of fragile biomaterials is now possible. See how the ElastoSens™ Bio can test long-term evolution of cell-laden hydrogels on the same sterile sample with advanced biomaterials testing and analysis.
Hemostatic Agents & Blood Coagulation
ElastoSens™ Bio is the unique viscoelasticity testing instrument that measures, in real time, the formation of blood clots under the action of hemostatic agents. Test hemostatic gauzes, powders and gels in vitro to develop products, to accelerate preclinical studies or to control the quality of medical devices.
3D Bioprinting
In 3D bioprinting, the ElastoSens™ Bio is used to non-destructively test the mechanical properties of: bioinks, 3D printed hydrogels and 3D bioprinted structures. The measured mechanical properties correlates with the printability of the bioink, with the architecture of the printed structure or with the growth of cells.
Photocrosslinking
Use ElastoSens™ Bio to apply light at selected wavelengths (365 nm, 385 nm, and 405 nm) during testing to obtain the crosslinking kinetics in real time of photocrosslinkable biomaterials. The study of photocrosslinking processes of hydrogels is simplified thanks to the high flexibility of the instrument: selectable/combinable wavelengths, adjustable intensities and custom irradiation cycles.
Mechanical properties of native tissues
The ElastoSens™ Bio is used to measure ex vivo the viscoelastic or mechanical properties of soft native tissues.
The lungs are highly specialized organs whose mechanical behavior underlies their ability to sustain gas exchange. Properties such as elasticity, stiffness, and compliance determine how easily the lungs expand and recoil during breathing, while viscoelasticity reflects their capacity to store and dissipate energy with each cycle. These characteristics are not static; they vary with developmental stage, environmental exposures, and disease progression.
The kidney’s ability to filter blood and regulate fluid balance depends not only on its biochemical activity but also on its mechanical behavior. Properties such as elasticity, stiffness, and viscoelasticity reflect the composition and structure of the renal parenchyma as well as its perfusion. When these properties are altered, they can signal changes in tissue integrity, fibrosis, or vascular function.
The liver’s ability to perform its diverse physiological functions depends not only on its cellular and biochemical activity but also on its mechanical behavior. Properties such as elasticity, stiffness, and viscoelasticity reflect the underlying tissue architecture and composition, which are altered when disease is present. Measuring these characteristics provides valuable information for both clinical practice and research.
The intestine is a highly specialized segment of the gastrointestinal tract, responsible for nutrient absorption, fluid balance, and continuous interaction with the microbiome. Its function depends not only on biochemical activity but also on the mechanical properties of the intestinal wall, which determine how it expands, contracts, and transports luminal contents. The intestinal wall is a layered structure composed of mucosa, submucosa, muscle, and serosa, each contributing distinct mechanical behaviors such as elasticity, compliance, and anisotropy.
The intestine is a highly specialized segment of the gastrointestinal tract, responsible for nutrient absorption, fluid balance, and continuous interaction with the microbiome. Its function depends not only on biochemical activity but also on the mechanical properties of the intestinal wall, which determine how it expands, contracts, and transports luminal contents. The intestinal wall is a layered structure composed of mucosa, submucosa, muscle, and serosa, each contributing distinct mechanical behaviors such as elasticity, compliance, and anisotropy.
The stomach is a hollow, muscular organ whose function depends closely on its mechanical behavior. Properties such as elasticity, compliance, stiffness, and viscoelasticity govern how it expands to receive food, mixes contents, and regulates emptying into the intestine. These mechanical features also reflect the layered organization of gastric tissue, with smooth muscle, connective tissue, and mucosa each contributing to overall function.
Superabsorbent Polymers
The swelling and liquid absorption by superabsorbent polymers (SAP) can be tested in real time using the ElastoSens™ Bio. The SAP gel formation depends on the nature and amount of the absorbed liquid as well as the chemical composition of the polymer.
Soft Polymers Library
ElastoSens™ Bio is used to non-destructively test the mechanical properties of Soft Polymers.
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a synthetic, linear polyether composed of repeating ethylene oxide units. It is produced industrially by the ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide, yielding polymers with well-controlled molecular weights and narrow dispersity. PEG is highly hydrophilic, water-soluble, and chemically versatile, making it a foundational material in biomedical polymer science.
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a synthetic polysiloxane polymer composed of a flexible inorganic siloxane backbone (–Si–O–Si–) with methyl side groups. This unique inorganic–organic architecture gives PDMS exceptional chain mobility, very low glass transition temperature, and stable elastomeric behavior across a wide temperature range. PDMS is produced exclusively by industrial synthesis, typically involving hydrolysis and condensation of chlorosilanes followed by ring-opening polymerization of cyclic siloxanes.
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a synthetic aliphatic polyester derived from lactic acid monomers. Its chemical structure is based on repeating ester-linked lactic acid units, which can be arranged in different stereochemical configurations depending on the ratio of L- and D-lactic acid. PLA is primarily produced from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane through the fermentation of carbohydrates into lactic acid, followed by polymer synthesis.
Polyurethanes (PUs) are a versatile family of synthetic polymers characterized by the presence of urethane (carbamate) linkages in their backbone. They are industrially synthesized through step-growth polymerization reactions between diisocyanates and polyols, followed by chain extension using low–molecular weight diols or diamines. The resulting macromolecular architecture is typically segmented, consisting of soft segments (derived from polyether, polyester, or polycarbonate polyols) and hard segments (formed from diisocyanates and chain extenders).
Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels are synthetic, water-swollen polymer networks formed by chemically crosslinking PEG chains functionalized with acrylate end groups. PEG itself is a hydrophilic, non-ionic polymer produced through industrial polymerization of ethylene oxide, widely used in biomedical applications due to its chemical stability and low toxicity. PEGDA is synthesized by reacting PEG with acrylate-containing reagents, introducing reactive carbon–carbon double bonds at both chain ends.
Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a synthetic, biodegradable aliphatic polyester widely used in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. It is composed of repeating caprolactone units linked by ester bonds, giving the polymer a semi-crystalline structure with hydrophobic character. PCL is produced industrially through the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone, most commonly using metal catalysts or enzymatic routes.