Hello Sofya Landynya

Yes. The scratch assay and wound healing assay are the same. The wound-healing assay is an established two-dimensional technique that can be used to investigate collective migration and wound healing in vitro. The purpose of the scratch is to produce a cell-free area in the hope of inducing cells to migrate and close the gap. It is based on the observation that cells growing in a monolayer migrate to re-establish cell contacts after the development of an artificial wound. This method will mimic cell migration during wound healing in vivo.

Since your study involves migration of tumor cells under the action of tested antitumor drugs, you should perform an assay that can be used to analyze cell invasion. For this purpose, you will have to use the transwell cell invasion assay in which the transwell insert membrane is coated with Matrigel which functions as the extracellular matrix. Please note that this assay is different from transwell cell migration assay. The transwell cell migration assay measures the chemotactic capability of cells toward a chemo-attractant, while the transwell cell invasion assay measures both cell chemotaxis and the invasion of cells through extracellular matrix, a process that is commonly found in cancer metastasis or in embryonic development.

For the protocol you may want to refer to the article attached below.

Article In vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays

Best.

Hi there!

In general terms, the scratch assay and wound healing assay are often used interchangeably. Generally, both assays are used to study cell migration and wound closure. The principle behind these assays involves creating a "wound" or gap in a confluent cell monolayer (usually by scratching the cell layer with a pipette tip or a similar instrument) and then observing and measuring the rate at which the cells migrate to fill the gap over time. This process is used to simulate wound healing and to study the mechanisms of cell migration, proliferation, and tissue regeneration.

In specific terms, a scratch assay is a type of wound healing assay but there are also other types of wound healing assays. This website mentions some of the other common types of wound healing assays (the attached image is also from this article): Article In vitro wound healing assays - State of the art

Hi Sofya Landynya

Yes, The terms "scratch assay" and "wound healing assay" are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between them:

Similarities:

• Both are in vitro assays used to assess cell migration, a crucial process in wound healing.
• They involve creating a cell-free gap in a confluent monolayer of cells and monitoring how the cells close the gap over time.
• They provide valuable information about the wound healing potential of cells or the effects of various treatments on cell migration.

Differences:

• Scratch width: Scratch assays tend to create narrower gaps compared to wound healing assays.
• Method of gap creation:Scratch assay: A physical tool like a pipette tip is used to scratch a line across the cell monolayer. Wound healing assay: Cells are removed from a designated area using various methods like scratching, scraping, or cell exclusion zones.
• Data analysis:Scratch assay: Often focuses on measuring the gap closure rate. Wound healing assay: Can also examine additional parameters like epithelialization (formation of a new cell layer) and granulation tissue formation.

In summary:

• Think of a scratch assay as a more precise and controlled way to measure initial cell migration rate.
• Consider a wound healing assay to get a more comprehensive picture of the wound healing process.

Please find the protocol attached.

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/nprot.2007.30

2. Article An introduction to the wound healing assay using live-cell microscopy

Best of luck with your experiments.

Thanks,