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.