System for monitoring cell motility in real-time
View Patent ↗The invention relates to devices, devices for arraying biomolecules, including cells, methods for arraying biomolecules, assays for monitoring cellular movement, and systems for monitoring cellular movement. The devices include a support; a first layer configured to be placed in fluid-tight contact with the support, the first layer having an upper surface and defining a pattern of micro-orifices, each micro-orifice of the pattern of micro-orifices having walls and defining a micro-region on the support when the first layer is placed in fluid-tight contact with the support such that the walls of said each micro-orifice and the micro-region on the support together define a micro-well; and a second layer configured to be placed in fluid-tight contact with the upper surface of the first layer, the second layer defining a pattern of macro-orifices, each macro-orifice of the pattern of macro-orifices having walls and defining a macro-region when the first layer is placed in fluid-tight contact with the support and the second layer is placed in fluid-tight contact with the first layer such that the walls of the macro-orifice and the macro-region together define a macro-well.
1. A system for monitoring cell movement comprising:
a) a device for arraying cells
b) an observation system configured to observe movement or lack of movement of arrayed cells; and
c) a controller configured to link movement of the device for arraying cells into said observation system,
the device for arraying cells comprising
(i) a support;
(ii) a first layer configured to be placed in fluid-tight contact with the support, the first layer having an upper surface and defining a pattern of micro-orifices, each micro-orifice of the pattern of micro-orifices having walls and defining a micro-region on the support when the first layer is placed in fluid-tight contact with the support such that the walls of said each micro-orifice and the micro-region on the support together define a micro-well;
(ii) a second layer configured to be placed in fluid-tight contact with the upper surface of the first layer, the second layer defining a pattern of macro-orifices, each macro-orifice of the pattern of macro-orifices having walls and defining a macro-region when the first layer is placed in fluid-tight contact with the support and the second layer is placed in fluid-tight contact with the first layer such that the walls of the macro-orifice and the macro-region together define a macro-well wherein each macro-region encompasses at least one micro-region;
wherein the first layer and the second layer are configured for an arraying of cells on the support through the pattern of micro-orifices and the pattern of macro-orifices;
wherein the cells are allowed to grow to confluency within the micro-regions;
wherein at least one of a plurality of test agents is provided to at least one macro-well and allowing said test agent to contact confluent cells;
wherein said first and second layer are removed;
wherein cells are monitored for movement or lack of movement away from said micro-regions; and
correlating cellular movement or lack of movement away from said micro-regions with effect of said test agent on cellular movement.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the observation system comprises a phase contrast microscope or a flourescent image microscope.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller further comprises a computer interface configured to coordinate the movement of the device into the observation system.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the observation system further comprises a recording device configured to record images of the cells arrayed on the device for arraying cells.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the recording device comprises a digital camera configured to record images of the cells arrayed on the device for arraying cells, and wherein the recorded images are in a digital output.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the computer interface is configured to receive said digital output.