Cell Migration Assays

Acquisition of discontinuous timelapse images

MetaXpress software allows the user to easily append acquisitions done at varying intervals into one timelapse experiment for ease of visualization and analysis.

Watch the video  

Analyze cell area using transmitted light or fluorescence image

In this assay, cell proliferation, migration, and spreading all contributed to the cells’ ability to close the wound. Automated timelapse imaging using transmitted light or live cell-compatible fluorescence provided the means to measure the progress of the “healing”. The images from every time point may be objectively analyzed with high-content image analysis software so that the data can be plotted as a timecourse or evaluated individually at specific time points.

Read Application Note  

Cell Migration Analysis with Oris Pro Assay

This assay uses a non-toxic biocompatible gel to form a cell-free zone in the center of the well. After cells are seeded, the biocompatible gel dissolves, allowing cells to migrate into the detection zone in the center of the well. For images acquired with the MiniMax cytometer, a region of interest corresponding to the detection zone is specified, and the level of cell migration (area covered by cells) is analyzed.

Read Application Note  

Evaluate Cell Migration with Fluoroblok

The SpectraMax i3x reader and MiniMax cytometer can be used with FluoroBlok cell culture inserts to directly count cells from high-quality images to measure cellular migration over time. SoftMax Pro Software enables users to quickly set up analysis of cell counts via a simple point and click user interface. Image analysis provides accurate data compared to raw fluorescence, which is subject to cellular staining levels and background fluorescence. Using the image acquisition and analysis features of SoftMax Pro Software in combination with the 96-well FluoroBlok format, researchers can rapidly assess a wealth of cellular migration data to advance their studies in cancer and many other areas of biology.

Read Application Note  

Make movies from timelapse images

With a few clicks in MetaXpress movies can be rendered from raw images, overlaid wavelengths, or analysis masks.

• Watch the video  
• Measure cell migration using a simple scratch assay with timelapse live-cell imaging

Measure Cell Migration

Cell migration, the relocation of cells, is relevant to wound healing, immunology, embryonic development, and irregular cellular events such as cancer metastasis. Cell migration assays are used to measure cell motility in a controlled environment, and both “scratch” assays and assays utilizing microplates with pre-formed “wounds” are frequently utilized for this purpose. By conducting the assay in a 96 or 384 well microplate, several compounds that may affect the cell’s ability to migrate, such as chemotherapeutic compounds or drugs to speed up wound healing, may be tested in one controlled experiment with adequate replicates.

Read Application Note  

Objective Quantification of Cell Migration

Cell migration is a key process in normal development, immune function and wound healing. Abnormal cell migration is a feature of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The CloneSelect Imager system reveals the in vitro effects of therapeutic candidates and cell culture matrices on cell migration as well as the study of cell-to-cell interactions. Migration application software in CloneSelect Imager enables measurement of cell migration based on objective cell detection.

Read Application Note  

Sort values to view your data of interest

The table analysis format can be used to view results for measurements of interest without having to look within individual wells. The table analysis format also allows users to sort values by columns.

Visualize trends for measurements of interest

The scatter plot analysis format allows users to identify trends for measurements of interest between selected wells. In this example, we see that cells treated with Cytochalasin D did not migrate into the cell-free zone as completely as the untreated control.

Whole plate overview

A montage of thumbnails of low magnification images (4X) of an OrisPro Cell Migration Assay in 96 well format illustrates the benefit of a consistent cell-free zone for measuring cell migration.