Measuring mechanical properties of soft microspheres: Implications for degenerative arthritis treatment

Micro‐sized spheres with various functions have been developed using phase separation, polymerization, spray drying, and microfluidics, and these microspheres are used in various fields. Soft microspheres have relatively low elastic moduli and are used as scaffolds, in medical applications, and in tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility, flexibility, and deformability. They can also be used to reduce inflammation that causes pain in arthritis patients. The low modulus of elasticity of soft microspheres plays an important role in determining their functionality. Therefore, it is essential to characterize and analyze the mechanical properties. In this study, experiments were conducted to determine the compressive and shear moduli of microspheres through two different methods: osmotic compression and capillary micromechanics. An experimental setup for each method was established and the results obtained through two different methods were quantitatively compared. This study contributes to the preparation of microparticles by controlling their mechanical properties.