Patent ID: 6864065
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: B01D,B01J,B01L,B82Y,C12M,C12Q,C40B,G01N,G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. An assay for monitoring cell movement comprising the steps of: positioning a first layer to be in fluid-tight contact with a 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; positioning a second layer to be in fluid-tight contact with an 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; each macro-region encompassing at least one micro-region; immobilizing at least one cell of a plurality of cells in each respective micro-region on the support so as to situate the at least one cell within a corresponding micro-well, the cells thereby being arrayed on the support in a pattern that corresponds to the pattern of the micro-orifices; allowing the cells to grow to confluency within the micro-regions; providing at least one of a plurality of test agents to at least one macro-well and allowing said test agent to contact confluent cells; removing said first and second layer; monitoring cells 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.