ARTIC sets standard for drug testing with microhairs

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) spin-off ARTIC Technologies is developing a revolutionary micro pump for cell culture. Founders Laure van der Sanden (CEO), Hossein Eslami Amirabadi (CSO), and Prof. Jaap den Toonder have transformed their scientific breakthrough, Magnetic Artificial Cilia (MAC), into a modular, tubeless platform designed for precise flow regulation in preclinical drug testing.

Traditional cell culture methods lack fluid flow, resulting in a poor analogy with the physiology of the human body. ARTIC offers a solution. “Our platform provides human-representative fluid flow, scalable and user-friendly for cell culture,” says Van der Sanden.

With MAC, inspired by cilia found in nature, tiny hairs cause fluid movement without the need for pipes or complex equipment. “The hairs move on a micro scale via a magnetic field, without any physical connections. This allows us to create physiological flows that cells truly recognize.” Cilia (also known as ciliated hairs) are microscopic, hair-like structures on the surface of specific cells, both in humans and other organisms. With their rhythmic movements, they transport fluid or particles across the cell surface.

Born from science, made for social impact

ARTIC was born at TU/e, where Eslami Amirabadi and Den Toonde both worked. Inspired by the natural functioning of cilia, they wanted to commercialize their technology and make an impact in drug development. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical research,” says Van der Sanden. In this way, the startup helps reduce the use of laboratory animals and focuses on future applications in green tech.

Instrument of change in preclinical testing

With increasing pressure from the pharmaceutical industry to adopt animal-free methods, ARTIC is on an exponential growth path. Their MAC pump bridges the gap between organ-on-chip systems, which work physiologically but are challenging to scale up, and conventional systems, which are sometimes accurate but not biologically realistic.

Van der Sanden: "Our technology is the missing piece of the puzzle: a tubeless, modular system that combines high processing speed, automation, and physiological flow.

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Successes achieved, but above all, potential

Since its inception, ARTIC has raised over half a million euros and built a strong team. Their recent pilot yielded valuable data, and they also had a stand at an international conference. A Proof of Concept grant from the ERC supported the development of their prototype — a milestone for the TU/e spin-off.

The Brainport ecosystem plays a key role. The TU/e and Den Toonde's microsystems group provides direct access to top institutes and technical expertise. Platforms such as The Gate and Braventure support community and tooling, while production partners like Demcon and Axxicon provide practical infrastructure. “Brainport is much more than just a location for us,” says Van der Sanden. “It’s our strength: from R&D to upscaling, everything comes together here.”

Strength

Nevertheless, Van der Sanden believes that Brainport still has room to grow: the biotech/life sciences cluster could be stronger. Additionally, the founders aim to expand beyond cell culture in the long term. After drug testing, their goal is to apply MAC technology in green tech as well — an ambitious roadmap that has been divided into phases.

If ARTIC had not started in Brainport, Switzerland, with its strong biotech ecosystem, it would have been a logical second choice. But the team found the ideal combination of technological depth, industrial network, and spin-off support in Eindhoven.

G&A 2025

Every year, we spotlight 10 start-ups from the Brainport region. Each receives a Gerard & Anton Award.

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