Fibrosis causes the progressive deterioration of mechanical behavior in tissue. Changes in cell and tissue mechanical properties, such as stiffness and viscosity, play a significant role in the development of fibrosis. Our advanced devices can monitor the mechanical environment in different types of fibrotic tissues at all stages of disease development. By measuring changes in the mechanical properties of fibrotic tissues over time, our instruments assess the effectiveness of antifibrotic drugs in reducing stiffness and restoring normal tissue function. Additionally, they support advanced 3D in vitro systems that more accurately mimic the fibrotic microenvironment to optimize therapeutic delivery methods and discover potential therapies for fibrotic diseases.

Mechanical properties in the tumor microenvironment influence tumor growth, proliferation, and drug resistance. Mechanical changes in the tumor tissue and its surroundings support tumor progression and metastasis by altering the metabolism and behavior of cancer cells and the associated stromal cells. Our technology can identify the mechanical difference between healthy and malignant cells and monitor the mechanical environment during cancer progression, such as cell migration and differentiation. By measuring changes in tumor mechanical properties over time, our instruments assess the effectiveness of anticancer drugs at reducing stiffness, restoring normal tissue function, and potentially overcoming tumor drug resistance. In addition, this technology supports physiologically relevant 3D in vitro models to recapitulate the complex mechanical and biochemical properties of tumors in vivo, optimize therapeutic delivery methods, and discover potential cancer therapies.

During a myocardial infarction, the heart undergoes changes in its mechanical and electrical properties, including tissue remodeling, thereby increasing the risk of arrhythmias and heart failure. Our instruments prove beneficial in heart failure research by enabling scientists to measure the mechanical properties and contractility of cardiomyocytes in vitro, such as 2D cell cultures and 3D engineered cardiac tissue. Moreover, this technology assists scientists in developing cell culture substrates for engineered cardiac tissue or injectable hydrogels. These tools can play a crucial role in inducing cardiac tissue regeneration, offering a potential treatment for myocardial infarction. In the long run, this support contributes to developing antifibrotic drugs to address cardiac fibrosis.

Neuromuscular disorders significantly affect muscle functionality. In vitro neuromuscular models reveal the specialized mechanisms of communication between neurons and muscle tissue. The measurement of contractility is vital for comprehending muscle (dys)function and assessing the effectiveness of potential treatments. Using our technology, scientists can generate in vitro 3D tissues and analyze their functional properties in real time. This capability enables precise evaluation of muscle contractility, a significant factor in advancing diagnostics, tracking disease progression, evaluating drug efficacy, and identifying innovative therapeutic targets.

Metabolic diseases can impact the metabolism of muscles and lead to glycogen storage diseases, lipid metabolism disorders, or mitochondrial myopathies. They impair the normal functioning of muscle cells and promote progressive skeletal and cardiac muscle weakness and damage. Additionally, they cause further changes in the composition and structure of the extracellular matrix, potentially contributing to the overall impairment of muscle contractility. Our instruments can help scientists generate in vitro 3D muscle tissue and analyze the impact of metabolic diseases on muscles. They contribute to measuring muscle contractility during disease progression and evaluating the effectiveness of potential treatments.