Developing a System of Scalable Complexity for In Vitro Models of Cell Migration

Abstract

Current medical ability to diagnose and treat disease remains limited for many chronic diseases such as cancer, carcinoids, diabetes, and obesity. Basic research promises to advance our understanding of such conditions and ultimately improve treatment. However, basic research relies upon models and assays that recreate in vitro a portion of the enormous complexity found in vivo and that enable robust quantitative analysis. The tools of research must combine biologically-relevant complexity with analytical ability. Development of such tools requires skills and collaboration across disciplines. Furthermore successful implementation is most likely for tools that are versatile and easy-to-use. This dissertation presents research on the development and implementation of two versatile, combinable tools that allow portions of in vivo complexity to be recreated in vitro in a scalable manner: magnetically attachable stencils (MAts) and magnetically sealed live-cell imaging chambers (MSLICs). By integrating these two tools a greater range of complexity can be scaled. In combination these tools constitute a system of scalable complexity ranging from simple 2D cell assays under static conditions to fluidically controlled 3D cell assays.