A sensitive chemotaxis assay using a novel microfluidic device

Abstract

Existing chemotaxis assays do not generate stable chemotactic gradients and thus - over time - functionally measure only nonspecific random motion (chemokinesis). In comparison, microfluidic technology has the capacity to generate a tightly controlled microenvironment that can be stably maintained for extended periods of time and is, therefore, amenable to adaptation for assaying chemotaxis. We describe here a novel microfluidic device for sensitive assay of cellular migration and show its application for evaluating the chemotaxis of smooth muscle cells in a chemokine gradient. © 2013 Chen Zhang et al.