Migration and Invasion Assays!

Transwell

100

What are two cellular movements commonly associated with Transwell assays?

• Migration
• Invasion

200

What is the main difference between a Transwell migration assay and a Transwell invasion assay?

• Migration assay: Measures the ability of cells to move across a porous membrane                          
• Invasion assay: Measures the ability of cells to migrate and penetrate a layer of ECM material on top of the membrane

300

What type of assay analyzes a gradient of adhesive proteins?

Haptotaxis  

400

If a Transwell chemotaxis assay has chambers of equal concentration, then what is this called?

Uniform

500

What Invasion assay utilizes 3D extracellular matrices like collagen? 

3D Matrix Invasion 

Wound Healing

100

What is another name for this assay?

Scratch Assay

200

What is the mechanism behind this assay?

A wound or cut must be made

300

Name one of the three applications for Scratch assays.

1. Cell migration

2. Cell motility

3. Effects of treatments

400

Name two Scratch assay procedures.  

1. Insert

2. Pipette

500

Name one of the parameters measured by scratch assays.

1. Wound closure 

2. Cell front velocity 

3. Healing speed

Misc

100

Varying wound size is a limitation for what type of assay?

Scratch assay

200

Why are microfluidic devices so crucial?

They enhance control over cellular microenvironments

300

Migration and Invasion Assays still need to improve in mimicking what conditions?

In vivo

400

Microfluidic devices can be designed to perform multiple assays simultaneously, otherwise called what?

High-throughput

500

Why is it important to coat the membrane with ECM components, such as collagen or hydrogels, when performing an invasion assay?

The ECM coating simulates the physical and biochemical barrier that cells encounter in tissues