An accurate and cost-effective alternative method for measuring cell migration with the circular wound closure assay

Biosci Rep. 2018 Oct 31;38(5):BSR20180698. doi: 10.1042/BSR20180698. Print 2018 Oct 31.

Abstract

Cell migration is important in many physiological and pathological processes. Mechanisms of two-dimensional cell migration have been investigated most commonly by evaluating rates of cell migration into linearly scratched zones on the surfaces of culture plates. Here, we present a detailed description of a simple adaptation for the well-known and popular wound closure assay, using a circular wound instead of a straight line. This method demonstrates improved precision, reproducibility, and sampling objectivity for measurements of wound sizes as compared with classic scratch assays, enabling more accurate calculations of migration rate. The added benefits of the method are simplicity and low cost as compared with commercially available assays for generating circular wounds.

Keywords: cell migration; circular wound closure; scratch assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biological Assay / economics
  • Biological Assay / instrumentation*
  • Cell Culture Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Gels
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Molecular Imaging / statistics & numerical data
  • Neuroglia
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Wound Healing / physiology

Substances

  • Gels