Chiaro embodies incredible versatility and flexibility, elevating research by merging mechanical characterization with high-resolution imaging. Seamlessly compatible with most inverted microscopes, it integrates into your existing advanced imaging setups, aligning precisely with your experimental requirements. This compatibility ensures that mechanical assessment goes hand in hand with optical excellence, providing a multifaceted view of living matter. Optimized specifically for the mechanical characterization of living tissues and cells, Chiaro transcends the traditional limitations of nanoindentation. Its sophisticated design is both compact and potent, ensuring that even labs with limited space can benefit from its capabilities without sacrificing performance.
Level up your research by pairing mechanical characterization and imaging, with a device that can complement your existing equipment: Chiaro is compatible with most inverted microscopes, so you can pair mechanics with the advanced imaging setup that exactly suits your experimental needs.
Map the biomechanical environment of your samples, such as ex vivo tissues. Leverage this knowledge to build the next generation of biomaterials or in vitro models. Due to the unique application of innovative technology, Chiaro can perform mechanical mapping from sub-cellular scale to whole tissue samples spanning several centimeters, without compromising data quality.
Measure soft (biological) materials in situ and under near physiological conditions, enabling repeated and non-destructive measurements on live samples over time. Use mechanics as a label-free biomarker to track the state of a disease model, the remodeling action of a drug, or the degradation dynamics of a hydrogel.
Chiaro brings unparalleled versatility to research labs, enabling detailed mechanical characterization paired with high-resolution imaging through its compatibility with most inverted microscopes. It adeptly supports a wide range of research applications, from cell biology to material science, and is particularly optimized for living tissues and cells. Its compact design integrates smoothly with
existing microscope setups, enhancing both disease research and various testing needs. It opens up possibilities for sophisticated experimentation without compromising on quality or performance, ensuring that every aspect of mechanical assessment is captured with outstanding clarity and detail.
Spheroids & organoids
Hydrogels
Extracellular matrix
Single cell and 2D cultures
Ex vivo tissues
Wound healing
In vitro culturing
Eye care and medical devices
Tissue regeneration
Cartilage regeneration
Skin regeneration
Cultured meat
Chiaro is a microscope-compatible system for mechanically characterizing soft materials, from single cells to complex 3D cellular systems, including organoids and spheroids. It non-destructively characterizes soft materials at a cell-length scale. Besides, this system can be integrated with various imaging equipment, such as bright-field, phase contrast, fluorescence, and confocal microscopes.
Spatial Resolution Excellence
Our system is equipped with closed-loop XY stages, offering sub-micrometer positioning accuracy across 12 mm in each direction. This capability enables quick and precise measurements with incredible ease. Complementing this, the Z stage boasts a 12 mm travel range and a fine 80 nm encoder resolution. Paired with our diverse range of probes, it allows for adjustable contact radius between 500 nm and 50 µm. This adaptability is key for accurately conforming to samples with highly irregular surfaces, ensuring detailed and reliable measurements across a variety of sample types.
Micro-Rheology Capabilities
Our advanced system incorporates a feedback loop that facilitates high-precision measurements in quasi-static, stress relaxation/creep, and dynamic* indentation scenarios. These capabilities ensure exceptional accuracy in both force sensing and indentation-depth control. This precision is crucial for accurately assessing complex mechanical properties like nonlinearity, adhesion, viscoelasticity, and poroelasticity, providing detailed insights into material behaviors.
*Optional feature
Every probe is assembled and pre-calibrated at Optics11 life headquarters, using state of the art metrology equipment. Curious about how we do it? You can check our peer-reviewed method here.
Once you start an experiment, the software guides you through its preparation, to ensure reliable results for every experiment. Save your experimental steps as protocols, allowing you to reproduce or share your methods whilst minimizing human errors.
“The Chiaro has been an excellent tool for my work investigating the mechanics of embryonic development. We have used it successfully for embryo and hydrogel measurements. As a biologist by training, I’ve found the Chiaro to be user-friendly, and quick and simple to perform the measurements we need in our work.”
“Our data is good, but the machine is excellent!”
Whether your focus lies on mechanical measurements and characterization at the cell scale, or you work with muscle tissues, our platforms offer you precise, fast, and accurate outcomes. Discover more about how our products can help you accelerate and achieve your research goals.
With a wide range of application areas, across an array of samples, for various disease areas and testing needs, we can provide you with precise insights into mechanical cues to advance your translational research. Learn more about our applications here.
We are a growing team of 60+ passionate people, headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Learn more about our journey so far, meet our team of professionals, and our career opportunities.
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