Troy, NY, Oct 15, 2002 ... Applied BioPhysics Inc. offers a new automated method to monitor cell migration via a wound-healing assay. In the past, the ECIS instrumentation has been used exclusively to monitor the activities of living cells using electric fields too weak to be detected by the cells.
The ECIS wound healing assay (Patent pending) is a novel way to replace traditional wound-healing / migration measurements. Instead of disrupting the cell layer mechanically and following the migration of cells to "heal" the wound with a microscope, we employ electrical signals to both wound and then monitor the healing process.
The electrical wounding is only directed at the small population of cells in contact with the active 250µm diameter ECIS electrode. Once this incursion is completed, the system returns to its normal mode to immediately follow the healthy neighboring cells as they migrate inward to replace the killed cells. This measurement can be accomplished without opening the door of the incubator and provides quantitative data in real time.
Experiments using this method have been conducted showing that the healing migration rate is strongly dependent upon cell type, medium composition, and the protein adsorbed to the substrate.
Applied BioPhysics was founded by two researchers from General Electric Research and Development Center, Charles Keese, PhD in biology, and Ivar Giaever, PhD in physics. In 1973, Dr. Giaever received the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Applied BioPhysics develops and manufactures instrumentation for non-invasive measurement of cells. Applied BioPhysics products are sold worldwide.