A Tool to Automatically Create Stable and Reproducible Cell-free Gaps for Improving the Reliability of Cell Wound...

The reliability of cellular migration measurement in wound healing assays is frequently undermined by the prevalent methodological instability, i.e., tip-based method. We introduce an innovative instrument designed to address these limitations. Our novel cell scraper surpasses the current approach, generating a more consistent and stable cell-free gap. Repeated biological experiments reveal that the cell-free gap produced by the cell scraper exhibits straighter edges and uniform size and shape compared to the tip-based technique (p < 0.05). In terms of product design, the cell scraper boasts a refined color scheme suited for laboratory environments, enhancing the monitoring of experimental outcomes, and permits sterilization through autoclaving for reuse. Notably, after treatment, the cell scraper demonstrates a negligible effect on cell viability and proliferation (97.31% and 24.41%, respectively). Conversely, the tip-based method yields lower cell viability (91.37%) and proliferation (18.79%). This investigation presents the cell scraper as a novel, reusable device capable of generating reproducible cell-free gaps while preserving cellular viability, thereby augmenting the reliability of wound healing assays in comparison to existing techniques.