Migration Assay to Evaluate Cellular Interactions with Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering/Regenerative Medicine Applications

Abstract

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering approaches for solving current medical dilemmas such as organ failure, congenital defect, or reconstruction following disease or trauma typically require specific considerations regarding biomaterial selection, identification of key cell types, and applicable surgical techniques (Lanza et al. Principles of tissue engineering, Academic, 2007; Kikuchi, Kanama., Quart Rev 24:51–67, 2007). The ability to evaluate these components in vitro under conditions which simulate relevant in vivo environments can reduce development risks including time and money costs associated with early-stage product development. Similarly, such methods can be useful in making progress in researching features of natural and synthetic biomaterial such as porosity, strength, surface topography, and functionalization, and their singular or collective effects on cell behavior (Kikuchi and Kanama., Quart Rev 24:51–67, 2007; Furth et al. Biomaterials 28:5068–5073, 2007; Mieszawska and Kaplan., BMC Biol 8:59, 2010).

Adhesion, migration, and gene and protein expression are all cell behaviors that can be affected by properties of a chosen biomaterial and vary based upon organ system (Cornwell et al. J Biomater Res 71A:55–62, 2004; David et al. Tissue Eng 8(5):787–798, 2002). Understanding of these properties and their role in combination with biomaterial in remodeling is sought in order to fully harness and direct regeneration (Lanza et al. Principles of tissue engineering, Academic Press, 2007; Mieszawska and Kaplan. BMC Biol 8:59, 2010; Matragotri and Lahann J. Nat Mater 8:15–23, 2009).