Description
• More consistent results well-to-well compared to homemade scratch assays
• Useful for measuring cell migration, cell proliferation and wound closure
• Inert inserts leave no residues that could impede proliferation or migration of cells
Traditionally scratch assays have been used to study cell migration, cell proliferation and wound healing. However, these assays lack a consistently defined wound gap and can result in high inter-sample variation. Our CytoSelect 24-Well Wound Healing Assay provides a much more consistent method to measure cell migration across a wound field gap in vitro. Proprietary inserts generate a consistent 0.9mm wound gap between the cells. Cells may then be treated or monitored for proliferation or migration across the wound field by imaging samples at fixed time points or by time-lapse microscopy.
Introduction: Wounded tissue initiates a complex and structured series of events in order to repair the damaged region. These events may include increased vascularization by angiogenic factors, an increase in cell proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition, and infiltration by inflammatory immune cells as part of the process to destroy necrotic tissue. The wound healing process begins as cells polarize toward the wound, initiate protrusion, migrate, and close the wound area. These processes reflect the behavior of individual cells as well as the entire tissue complex.
Wound healing assays have been employed by researchers for years to study cell polarization, tissue matrix remodeling, or estimate cell proliferation and migration rates of different cells and culture conditions. Wound healing assays have been used to study cell polarity and actin cytoskeletal structure regulation through the role of Rho family GTPases, microtubule and Golgi apparatus orientation, the role of p53 in cell migration, as well as other physiological processes. These assays typically involve culturing a confluent cell monolayer and then displacing or destroying a group of cells by scratching a line through the monolayer. The open gap created by this "wound" is then inspected microscopically over time as the cells move in and fill the damaged area. This "healing" effect can take several hours to several days depending on the cell type, conditions, and the surface area of the "wounded" region. The disadvantage of these "scratch wound" assays is the lack of a defined wound surface area, or gap between cells. These wounds are varying sizes and widths, which inhibits consistent results and creates variation from well to well. In addition, the "scratch wound" assay often causes damage to the cells at the edge of the wound, which can prevent cell migration into the wound site and healing.
Our CytoSelect Wound Healing Assay Kit overcomes this inconsistency by providing proprietary treated inserts that can generate a defined wound field or gap. Cells are cultured until they form a monolayer around the insert. The insert is removed, leaving a precise 0.9 mm open "wound field" between the cells. Cells can be treated and monitored at this point for migration and proliferation into the wound field. Progression of these events can be measured by imaging samples fixed at specific time points or time-lapse microscopy.
MyBioSource's CytoSelect Wound Healing Assay Kit includes proprietary "wound field" inserts to assay the migratory and wound healing characteristics of cells. The kit contains sufficient reagents for the evaluation of 24 samples. The insert is optimal for use with most cell types and experimental conditions. The 0.9 mm wound field generated is compatible for use with most microscopes and imaging systems