(1326-C) Integrating Automated High-Throughput Scratch Assay and Cell Painting for Comprehensive Analysis of Cell Migration and Wound Healing
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
Location: Exhibit Halls AB
Abstract: Cell migration is a fundamental process influenced by complex cellular dynamics and microenvironmental factors. The scratch assay, a widely used technique, examines various cellular processes such as cell motility, invasion, angiogenesis, and wound healing. However, inherent limitations, including scratch size and shape variability, difficulties in quantifying cell migration, and potential cell damage during scratch creation, necessitate the development of improved methods. To address these challenges, we introduce an automated 96/384-well High Content Imaging (HCI)-based scratch assay, offering a highly reproducible approach for quantifying cell migration within the scratch region. Our automated scratch assay facilitates high-throughput screening, enabling quantitative analysis of cell migration and screening of large compound libraries to evaluate their impact on this critical process. This study demonstrates the potential of automated scratch assays in drug discovery and cellular research, providing a deeper understanding of cellular behavior. Moreover, we showcase the integration of cell painting, a high-throughput imaging technique employing fluorescent dyes to label cellular components, enhancing our ability to visualize and comprehend the morphological changes underlying cell migration and wound healing processes. In this research, we have pinpointed crucial morphological characteristics that play a pivotal role in cell migration. Furthermore, we have established a comprehensive ranking system to thoroughly assess the importance of these features in the wound healing process. Employing the cell painting approach, we have revealed a correlation between actin polymerization, mitochondrial distribution, and cell migration.