Dutch SME developing fiber-optic nanoindentation instruments for measuring mechanical properties of cells, tissues, and biomaterials.
Optics11 is an Amsterdam-based SME that develops fiber-optic nanoindentation instruments for measuring the mechanical properties of biological materials — cells, tissues, and hydrogels. Their technology enables researchers to characterize viscoelasticity and stiffness at the nanoscale, which is critical for understanding disease progression, developing diagnostic tools, and engineering biomaterials. In EU projects, they contribute their proprietary measurement platforms as a specialist technology provider for biomechanics and mechanobiology research.
Core capability across all three projects — ENDYVE focused on nano-indentation of viscoelastic materials, Phys2BioMed on mechanical phenotyping, and UroPrint on characterizing bioprinted tissues.
Phys2BioMed addressed mechanics and rheology of cells/tissues in health and disease; ENDYVE studied cell response to dynamic viscoelasticity.
ENDYVE specifically targeted temporally-tuneable viscoelastic materials and hydrogels for in-vitro models, where Optics11 served as coordinator.
Phys2BioMed explored mechanical phenotyping of cancer cells as early-diagnostic tools with standardization goals.
UroPrint applies their measurement capability to laser bioprinting and in vivo bioprinted urinary bladder tissue.
Optics11 began with fundamental materials science — their 2016 ENDYVE project focused on engineering viscoelastic hydrogels and characterizing them via nano-indentation for stem cell and cardiomyocyte research. By 2019-2021, their focus shifted decisively toward biomedical applications: mechanical phenotyping of cancer cells for early diagnosis (Phys2BioMed) and quality assessment of bioprinted organs (UroPrint). The trajectory shows a clear move from instrument-focused materials research toward clinical and translational biomedical measurement.
Optics11 is moving toward clinical translation — expect them to seek projects involving mechanical biomarkers for disease diagnosis and quality control for tissue engineering and bioprinting.
Optics11 operates primarily as a specialist technology contributor, joining consortia as a participant (2 of 3 projects) while demonstrating the ability to coordinate when the project centers on their core instrument capabilities (ENDYVE). With 22 unique partners across 8 countries from just 3 projects, they work in mid-to-large research consortia and connect broadly rather than repeatedly with the same partners. They are a reliable instrument provider that research teams bring in when they need precise nanomechanical measurement.
Despite only three projects, Optics11 has built a diverse network of 22 partners across 8 European countries, reflecting the broad demand for their measurement technology in academic and biomedical research groups.
Optics11 occupies a rare niche as an SME that manufactures precision nanoindentation instruments specifically designed for soft biological materials — a capability that most competitors target toward hard materials or industrial applications. Their position at the intersection of instrumentation, biomechanics, and biomedical research makes them a natural fit for any consortium that needs to measure mechanical properties of cells, tissues, or engineered biomaterials. For consortium builders, they bring both proprietary hardware and deep application knowledge in mechanobiology.
