Schaefer SEE at SIB 2026: introducing a new approach to mechanical characterisation of materials and soft biomaterials

One of the highlights of our participation will be the presentation of a novel benchtop micro-indenter designed for the mechanical characterisation of soft materials and biomaterials and, in particular, hydrogels.

Understanding the mechanical properties of hydrogels is increasingly important in biomaterials science and mechanobiology, as material stiffness can play a fundamental role in regulating cellular behaviour, biochemical signalling and tissue function. Existing reference techniques such as atomic force microscopy and nano-indentation, however, can require specialised expertise, significant investment and relatively complex experimental workflows. 

The new system has been developed to offer a more accessible approach to rapid, high-throughput and spatially resolved stiffness measurements. Designed to allow non-expert users to obtain robust and reproducible measurements within seconds, it covers a Young’s modulus range from 1 kPa to 1 MPa, encompassing the range of many commonly used hydrogels. The platform combines a high-performance sensing architecture, low-latency communications, real-time data acquisition and dedicated software for mechanobiology-oriented data analysis. 

The work, entitled “A novel benchtop micro-indenter for mechanical testing of soft biomaterials,” has been developed through a collaboration between the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, and Schaefer Italy SEE.