Assessing cell migration in hydrogels: An overview of relevant materials and methods

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cell migration is vital for embryonic development, wound healing, immune responses, and cancer metastasis.
• The complexity of cell migration necessitates advanced in vitro models to understand regulatory factors.
• Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels offer a physiologically relevant environment mimicking the extracellular matrix for cell migration studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review hydrogels and their properties used in studying cell migration.
• To describe established cell migration assays and tracking methods in 3D environments.
• To provide insights into literature and practical details for 3D cell migration research.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing biomimetic in vitro assays developed through advances in materials science, tissue engineering, and microtechnology.
• Employing a variety of synthetic and naturally derived hydrogels with diverse physico-chemical characteristics.
• Describing established cell migration assays and tracking methodologies.

Main Results:

• 3D hydrogels effectively mimic the extracellular environment, facilitating physiologically relevant cell migration studies.
• Different hydrogel properties (mechanical, biological) elicit distinct cell responses and affect locomotion dynamics.
• A wide range of hydrogels and methods are available for investigating cell migration in 3D.

Conclusions:

• 3D hydrogels are superior to in vivo approaches for studying cell migration in a controlled manner.
• Understanding hydrogel properties is key to interpreting cell migration dynamics in 3D.
• This review serves as a guide for researchers conducting cell migration studies in 3D environments.