Measurement of cell motility using microgrooved substrates

Abstract

Cells migrate to perform specifi c functions such as tissue/organ formation during development or to repair injured tissue. Therefore, the study of cell migration is important not only for fundamental cell biology research, but also to understand tissue morphogenesis and wound healing. In this chapter, we describe a method developed in our laboratory to measure cell migration in a uniaxial direction. In this approach, linear microgrooves, fabricated on a transparent poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrate, allow cells to move in a uniaxial direction, in contrast to the random movement of cells in all directions on a smooth substrate surface. This chapter describes in detail the materials and methods needed to measure cell movement using microgrooved substrates, as well as applications of this method.