At the University of Limerick, Clíona M. McCarthy, under the supervision of Dr. John J.E. Mulvihill, is leading the charge in pioneering the study of ex vivo tissues’ micromechanics. Using the advanced Chiaro indenter from Optics11 Life, her research focuses on capturing subtle mechanical variations in fresh biological tissues, such as colonic and vascular tissues. This approach marks a shift from traditional macroscale testing to cutting-edge microscale analysis, opening new avenues for exploring disease progression at a much finer detail.
“Macroscale testing often fails to detect regional mechanical variations in soft biological tissues,” says McCarthy. Microscale testing, however, allows for more precise examination of tissue mechanics, especially in tracking disease progression. The Chiaro indenter, with its unique capabilities designed specifically for soft, fresh biological tissues, plays a critical role in her work. McCarthy emphasizes the importance of testing fresh, unfixed tissues to maintain their physiological accuracy, which is essential in analyzing viscoelastic properties and detecting changes that would otherwise be missed.
The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) capability of the Chiaro indenter adds immense value to her research, providing accurate measurements of viscoelastic properties in both ex vivo and engineered tissues. McCarthy sees this as a game changer in creating better biomimetic models, which can mirror the mechanical properties of living tissues more effectively.
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