If your research depends on accurate measurement of dynamic cellular behavior, Cell Biolabs brings quantitative rigor, throughput and reproducibility to cell-based research. Our expert assay guides and trusted global distributor network ensures rapid supply and ongoing technical support.
Our assays support fundamental research, with relevance across oncology, cell and developmental biology, immunology and drug development. Researchers trust our extensive portfolio to deliver fully quantitative, reproducible results while offering choice in assay format and streamlined, plate-based workflows without manual cell counting.
Founded by scientists, Cell Biolabs understands the challenges of measuring cell behavior, including poor reproducibility, variability and increased hands-on time. This enables you to confidently address evolving research questions using assays from a single, trusted source.
A central aim of our cell-based assays is to provide workable models of cell behavior such as migration, invasion and contraction.
Measuring cell migration
Cell migration is the directed movement of cells in response to defined cues and is commonly assessed by three behaviors:
- Chemotaxis: the directed movement towards or away from a chemical signal
- Transmigration: the movement of cells across a porous barrier (E.g. vascular endothelium)
- Gap closure: the lateral movement of cells across a surface to close a gap, such as in wound healing
Uniquely, Cell Biolabs offers both primary in vitro formats for assessing cell migration, allowing you to select the most appropriate approach to address your biological question. Gap-closure Assays offer a highly sensitive and reproducible, plate-based format to quantify lateral, two-dimensional (2D) migration across a defined surface. Boyden Chamber Assays provides a robust, quantitative approach to measure directed migration, enabling assessment of chemotaxis and transmigration.
Our CytoSelect™ 24-Well Wound Healing Assay provides a robust gap-closure method for measuring lateral cell migration and wound closure in vitro. Widely cited in the literature, it enables consistent well-to-well comparison of migratory responses over time.
- Precisely defined 0.9 mm wound gap ensures uniform measurement of gap-closure across wells, enabling reliable, physiologically relevant comparison.
- No manual scratching reduces user-to-user variability and artifacts, improving reproducibility.
- Inert insert design prevents residue-related inhibition of migration, ensuring cell behavior reflects treatment effects rather than assay interference.
- Compatible with endpoint imaging or time-lapse analysis enabling flexible experimental design, from simple migration comparisons of wound closure dynamics.
Measuring cell invasion
Cell invasion is defined by a cell’s ability to traverse a physical barrier, such as a basement membrane or collagen matrix, integrating motility with adhesion, detachment and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. As with cell migration, Boyden chamber assays, when combined with an ECM barrier, provide a fully quantitative and robust method to measure cell invasion.
A reproducible, and fully quantitative Boyden Chamber format for analysis of invasive behavior, our CytoSelect™ 24-Well Cell Invasion Assay, Basement Membrane measures cell movement through a basement membrane matrix.
- Physiologically relevant pore size (8 µm) supports invasion of a range of adherent and cancer cell types while maintaining selectivity for actively invading cells.
- Quantitative measurement of invaded cells (no manual cell counting) reduces user variability and delivers objective, comparable invasion data, while minimizing hands-on time.
- Pre-coated ECM basement membrane inserts standardizes the invasion barrier, enabling reproducible assessment of true invasive behavior.
- Measures adhesion, motility and matrix degradation enabling assessment of true invasive potential, increasing biological relevance for cancer progression and drug response studies.
- Colorimetric or fluorometric detection provides flexibility in sensitivity and instrumentation to match experimental needs.
Measuring cell contraction
Cell contraction is the generation of mechanical force through actomyosin activity, that drives tissue remodeling. In wound healing, myofibroblasts contract collagen-rich matrices to promote tissue closure. Researchers commonly measure this process in vitro using three-dimensional (3D) collagen gel contraction models, which better reflect physiological mechanics than traditional 2D cultures.
CytoSelect™ 24-Well Cell Contraction Assay Kit (Floating Matrix Model) provides a reproducible, physiologically relevant way to assess cell contractility in a 3D collagen matrix. By measuring collagen gel contraction under load-free conditions, it enables direct assessment of intrinsic cellular contractility.
- 3D collagen matrix contraction model provides a more physiologically relevant measure of cell contractility than 2D systems, supporting conclusions representative of in vivo cell contractility.
- Floating matrix format (no external mechanical load) isolates cell-driven contractility, enabling more meaningful comparison of contraction-modulating factors.
- Proprietary contraction plate eliminates matrix release step reducing hands-on time and workflow interference, improving throughput and consistency.
- Quantitative measurement of collagen gel size changes means objective and reproducible readouts suitable for comparative and screening studies.
- Optional contraction inhibitor included supporting assay validation and mechanistic studies of contraction pathways.
To explore our full Cell-Based assay portfolio, visit our Cell Based Assay product page for additional assays, formats, and product information.