Mechanobiology explores how mechanical forces and viscoelastic properties shape biological functions. Accessing this mechanical information is vital, as changes in cell and tissue viscoelasticity are often early indicators of disease. Yet, today’s technologies rely on physical contact with the sample, limiting their ability to reveal 3D mechanical insights. Specto’s groundbreaking solutions based on Brillouin spectroscopy include ultra-compact on-chip spectrometers and high-rejection ultra-narrowband optical filters. 

Our modules provide effortless integration into standard microscopes and analytical instruments, extending their capabilities with all-optical and three-dimensional mechanical investigation.

Brillouin Spectroscopy

Brillouin Spectroscopy is a non-contact and label-free method to optically measure fundamental viscoelastic properties in living cells and tissues.

Applications:

Life Sciences: 

Research: Label-free, noncontact mapping of micromechanical properties in living cells and tissues.

Pharmaceuticals: Drug development: Accelerated new drug development by non-invasive assessment of drug efficacy in the volume of living cells.

Chronic disease diagnosis: Enables early detection of chronic diseases by analyzing cellular and tissue mechanics.

Disease progress monitoring: Tracks disease progression and evaluates treatment efficacy.

Industrial production lines:

Production monitoring: Ensures repeatability and quality through in-line inspections of products micromechanical properties.

Quality assessment: Verifies final product standards by ensuring texture and stiffness requirements are met.

Learn more about Specto Photonics high-rejection BIPD optical filters here. 

Read article in Nature|Methods Brillouin microscopy: an emerging tool for mechanobiology. More publications here.