I'm trying to do an invasion assay using glioma stem cells and I'm trying to determine my options. I found that two common methods of testing invasion are the matrigel invasion assay and the Boyden chamber. However, when I look at those methods, they seem pretty similar. They both seem to be looking at how cells invade (either a matrigel or a porous membrane) toward a chemoattractive substance. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between them and if there any other assays I should consider? Thanks!
Hi Namratha
For invasion I use matrigel invasion assay. The matrigel serves as a reconstituted basement membrane. Invasive cells will degrade the matrix and on doing so "invade".
On the other hand the Boyden chamber (just the porous membrane) is normally used for migration assays. As you mentioned the cells will move towards a chemoattractive substance. They don't really degrade any matrix, just move through the porous membrane.
Hope this helps,
Good luck
Silvia
Hi Silvia,
Thanks for your response! That does help a lot! I'll try the matrigel assay then. Do you happen to have a protocol that you'd be willing to share? I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks!
Namratha
Hi Namratha
The protocol I used is pretty much described in the link:
The only difference is, I used to buy the Corning wells already coated with BD-Matrigel.
Good luck,
Wishing you lots of success,
Silvia
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_can_I_optimize_transwell_cell_invasion_assay
To test the drugs' effect on cancer cells using the Migration & Invasion assay, should the drugs be seeded in the upper coated chamber(mixed with the cells) or at the lower chamber (mixed with media) Thank you
- Badges
- Science topic