Advanced Cell Mobility Studies Using the Xeno-free Vitrogel®-Based Cell Invasion Assay Kits
VitroGel-Based Cell Invasion Assay Kits
Xeno-free hydrogel system for consistent study of cell invasion. Kit includes choice of hydrogel with VitroPrime™ Cell Culture Inserts, 8 µm, PET, 12/PK.
VitroGel®-Based Cell Invasion Assay Kits
Your gateway for easy-to-use and consistent in-depth cell invasion studies.
- Adjust ECM stiffness and compositions – Control key compounds and explore how different matrix strengths, ligands, chemokines, growth factors, and more influence cell invasion.
- Batch-to-batch consistency – a defined system, unlike animal-derived ECM without unknown protein composition.
- No ice bucket required – room temperature stable protocol that can be completed in 30 minutes and can be adapted to laboratory automation.
- Support barrier models – the system can be used to create in vitro complex microenvironments such as the human intestinal model.
Cell invasion, a vital process in various biological contexts, can be pivotal in embryonic development, immunosurveillance, and wound healing while also playing a concerning role in cancer metastasis. Traditional in vitro invasion assays have relied on animal-based extracellular matrices, which come with challenges like undefined components, batch-to-batch variability, and cumbersome temperature-sensitive protocols, thus leading to inconsistent and inaccurate studies.
The VitroGel®-Based Invasion Assay Kits are powered by VitroGel® hydrogels (versatile, xeno-free, bio-functional hydrogels that closely mimic the physiological extracellular matrix) and coupled with our premium quality VitroPrime™ Cell Culture Inserts, allowing more accurate and consistent invasion and migration studies than animal-based ECM. Start with the Ready-To-Use VitroGel® Cell Invasion Assay Kit (which includes our VitroGel® Hydrogel Matrix) for traditional cell invasion assay studies. Go further with any of the tunable VitroGel® “High Concentration” Cell Invasion Assay Kits where the biophysical and biochemical properties are tunable, allowing researchers to explore how different matrix strengths, ligands, chemokines, growth factors, and more influence cell invasion.
Whether using the Ready-to-use VitroGel® Hydrogel Matrix or any of the tunable high-concentration VitroGel® hydrogels, they can be used for this cell invasion assay, providing versatility for cell mobility studies.
Specifications
| Use | Cell Invasion, cell migration, co-culture, barrier model |
| Inserts | 8 µm, PET, Transparent, Sterile. 12 inserts/plate. |
| Ready to Use Kit Contents | VitroGel Hydrogel Matrix + VitroPrime Cell Culture Inserts |
| Tunable Matrix Kits | VitroGel High Concentration hydrogel + VitroPrime Cell Culture Inserts |
| Formulation | Xeno-free, functional hydrogel |
| pH | Neutral |
| Number of Uses | 1 mL hydrogel per 12 plate inserts |
| Storage | Store hydrogel at 2-8°C. Ships at ambient temperature |
Benefits of the VitroGel-Based Cell Invasion Assay Kit
Benefits comparison to traditional animal-based ECM for cell invasion studies
Type of studies capable with VitroGel®-Based Cell Invasion Assay Kits.
With VitroGel®-Based Cell Invasion Assay Kits, not only you can perform traditional invasion/migration assays but go beyond to study more types of invasion/migration studies with the tunable kits.
Cell invasion culture process in 30 minutes.
Work confidently at room temperature. No ice bucket here. VitroGel®-Based Cell Invasion Assay Kits are ready to use. There is no cross-linking agent required. (Click to learn how gelation works.)
Protocols / Resources
Product Data Sheet
VitroGel® Cell Invasion Assay Kit
VitroGel® Cell Invasion Assay Kit
VitroGel® 3D Cell Invasion Assay Kit
VitroGel® RGD Cell Invasion Assay Kit
VitroGel® IKVAV Cell Invasion Assay Kit
VitroGel® YIGSR Cell Invasion Assay Kit
VitroGel® COL Cell Invasion Assay Kit
VitroGel® MMP Cell Invasion Assay Kit
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Video Protocols | Webinars | Application Notes
WEBINAR
Research Highlights
Data and References
Ready-TO-USE VitroGel Cell Invasion Assay
Chemoattraction from outer well
Adding chemoattractants into the outer well to study cell mobility with ready-to-use VitroGel® Hydrogel Matrix system.
Invasion of U87-MG Glioblastoma cells towards an FBS gradient
- Cell Invasion Assay Kit: VitroGel® Cell Invasion Assay (Ready-to-use, Cat # IA-VHM01-4P)
- Insert: VitroGel® Hydrogel Matrix
- Outer well: No serum v.s. 20% FBS
- Cell incubation time: 48 hrs
Invasion of U87-MG glioblastoma cells through VitroGel® Hydrogel Matrix caused by a serum gradient.
A. Schematic representation demonstrating the invasion assay cell culture set-up. B. U-87 MG cell invasion was visualized by performing crystal violet staining followed by light microscopy. The images show the membrane inserts from control group (No FBS) and 20% FBS conditions. Images were obtained with a Zeiss microscope at a 10X magnification. C. Fold change of U87-MG cell invasion between control and 20% FBS groups. The control group was normalized to 1. The asterisk (*) stands for p<0.05.
Effects of cytokine within the hydrogel matrix on cell mobility
The ready-to-use VitroGel® Hydrogel Matrix allows researchers to manipulate the chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, etc., within the hydrogel matrix to understand their effects on cell mobility.
Evaluating chemotaxis by adjusting the growth factors compositions within VitroGel® Hydrogel Matrix
- Cell Invasion Assay Kit: VitroGel® Cell Invasion Assay (Ready-to-use, Cat # IA-VHM01-4P)
- Insert: VitroGel Hydrogel Matrix with TGF-β1 v.s. without TGF-β1
- Outer well: No serum v.s. 20% FBS
- Cell Incubation time: 24 hrs
TGF-β1 inside of VitroGel® hydrogel matrix induces invasion of U87-MG glioblastoma cells.
A. Visual representation of invasion assay setup. B. Light microscopy images demonstrating cell invasion in the different groups after crystal violet staining. Images were obtained with a Zeiss microscope at a 10X magnification. C. Mean of U87-MG cell invasion for each of the experimental conditions.
VitroGel® High-Concentration Cell Invasion Assay
Effect of hydrogel mechanical strengths on cell mobility
The tunable VitroGel® high-concentration hydrogels allow researchers to modify the mechanical strength of the hydrogel matrix to understand its effects on cell mobility.
Study the invasion of U87-MG Glioblastoma cells on hydrogel with different mechanical strengths
- Tunable Cell Invasion Assay Kit: VitroGel® RGD Cell Invasion Assay (Cat # IA-HC003-4P)
- Insert: VitroGel RGD hydrogel at 1:1, 1:3 and 1:5 dilution ratios
- Outer well: No serum v.s. 20% FBS
- Cell Incubation time: 24 hrs
Invasion of U87-MG glioblastoma (GBM) cells using VitroGel® RGD high-concentration hydrogel.
VitroGel® RGD was diluted with VitroGel® Dilution Solution at the following ratios: 1:1, 1:3, and 1:5. The hydrogel mixture was further diluted with MEM 1X at a 4:1 ratio. The hydrogel mixture was added to the inserts and allowed to solidify for 20 minutes at RT. U87-MG glioblastoma cells (3.8 x 104 cells/insert) were resuspended in a 100 µl of serum-free medium and added to the inserts. 500 µl of either serum-free medium or MEM 1X supplemented with 20% FBS were added to the outer wells. The cells were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. Then, cell invasion was visualized by performing crystal violet staining and imaging. Images were obtained with the Zeiss microscope at a 10X magnification. *p<0.05 (Please check the Product page of VitroGel® RGD for mechanism strengths at different dilutions.
Effect of hydrogel functional ligands and degradability on cell mobility
The tunable VitroGel® high-concentration hydrogels were designed based on different hydrogel properties, e.g. the modification of functional ligands and degradability of hydrogel matrix. The tunable VitroGel® system provides a novel tool to study the effects of hydrogel biochemical properties on cell mobility.
Study the effect of functional ligands and degradability of hydrogel matrix on cell mobility
- Tunable Cell Invasion Assay Kits:
VitroGel® 3D Cell Invasion Assay Kit (Cat# IA-HC001-4P)
VitroGel® MMP Cell Invasion Assay Kit (Cat# IA-HC010-4P)
VitroGel® RGD Cell Invasion Assay Kit (Cat# IA-HC003-4P) - Insert: VitroGel® 3D, MMP, or RGD hydrogel at 1:3 dilution ratio
- Outer well: No serum v.s. 20% FBS
- Cell Incubation time: 48 hrs
Bio-functional ligands inside hydrogel influence U87-MG glioblastoma cell invasion.
A. Schematic representation of experimental setup. Hydrogels were diluted with VitroGel® dilution solution in a 1:3 ratio, placed in the insert, and allowed to solidify for 20 mins. B. Light microscopy images showing U87-MG glioblastoma cell invasion through VitroGel® high-concentration hydrogels with different bio-functional ligands. Images were obtained with a Zeiss microscope at a 10X magnification. C. Fold change of cell invasion in the FBS group relative to the No FBS group for each hydrogel.
Effect of both cytokine and functional ligands in hydrogel matrix on cell mobility
The defined composition and the multiple functional ligand modifications of the tunable VitroGel® high-concentration hydrogels allow researchers to create a complex microenvironment with full control of the hydrogel supplement content e.g. chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, etc., to study cell mobility.
Study the effect of both cytokine and functional ligands of hydrogel matrix on cell mobility
- Cell Invasion Assay Kits:
VitroGel® 3D Invasion Assay Kit (Cat# IA-HC001-4P)
VitroGel® RGD Cell Invasion Assay (Cat# IA-HC003-1P) - Insert: VitroGel® 3D and VitroGel® RGD hydrogels at 1:3 dilution ratio with TGF-β1 v.s. without TGF-β1
- Outer well: No serum v.s. 20% FBS
- Cell Incubation time: 48 hrs
TGF-β1 inside VitroGel® 3D and VitroGel® RGD facilitates U87-MG glioblastoma cell invasion.
A. Visual representation of experimental setup. Cultures were incubated for 48 hours B. Microscopy images demonstrating U87-MG glioblastoma cell invasion through VitroGel® 3D and RGD. Each hydrogel was diluted with VitroGel® Dilution solution in a 1:3 ratio and then combined with MEM 1X or MEM 1X with TGF-β1 (30 ng/mL) in a 4:1 ratio. Images were obtained with a Zeiss microscope at a 10X magnification. C. Fold change of cell invasion in the TGF-β1 in hydrogel and FBS groups relative to the No FBS group for each hydrogel. The No FBS group was normalized to 1.
References/Publications
- Hong, E., Barczak, W., Park, S., Heo, J. S., Ooshima, A., Munro, S., Hong, C. P., Park, J., An, H., Park, J. O., Park, S. H., La Thangue, N. B., & Kim, S.-J. (2023). Combination treatment of T1-44, a PRMT5 inhibitor with Vactosertib, an inhibitor of TGF-β signaling, inhibits invasion and prolongs survival in a mouse model of pancreatic tumors. Cell Death & Disease, 14(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-023-05630-5
- Ma, H., Dean, D. C., Wei, R., Hornicek, F. J., & Duan, Z. (2021). Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is an emerging prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma. Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease, 13, 1759720X2199506. https://doi.org/10.1177/1759720×21995069
- Shen, S., Dean, D. C., Yu, Z., Hornicek, F., Kan, Q., & Duan, Z. (2020). Aberrant CDK9 expression within chordoma tissues and the therapeutic potential of a selective CDK9 inhibitor LDC000067. Journal of Cancer, 11(1), 132–141. https://doi.org/10.7150/jca.35426
- Kawashima, A., Yasuhara, R., Akino, R., Mishima, K., Nasu, M., & Sekizawa, A. (2020). Engraftment potential of maternal adipose-derived stem cells for fetal transplantation. Heliyon, 6(3), e03409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03409
- Buttarelli, M., De Donato, M., Raspaglio, G., Babini, G., Ciucci, A., Martinelli, E., Baccaro, P., Pasciuto, T., Fagotti, A., Scambia, G., & Gallo, D. (2020). Clinical Value of lncRNA MEG3 in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. Cancers, 12(4), 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12040966
- Feng, W., Dean, D. C., Hornicek, F. J., Spentzos, D., Hoffman, R. M., Shi, H., & Duan, Z. (2020). Myc is a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in osteosarcoma. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, 12, 175883592092205. https://doi.org/10.1177/1758835920922055
- Li, X., Dean, D. C., Cote, G. M., Zou, L., Hornicek, F. J., Yu, S., & Duan, Z. (2020). Inhibition of ATR-Chk1 signaling blocks DNA double-strand-break repair and induces cytoplasmic vacuolization in metastatic osteosarcoma. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, 12, 175883592095690.
- Seidi, K., Ayoubi-Joshaghani, M. H., Azizi, M., Javaheri, T., Jaymand, M., Alizadeh, E., Webster, T. J., Yazdi, A. A., Niazi, M., Hamblin, M. R., Amoozgar, Z., & Jahanban-Esfahlan, R. (2021). Bioinspired hydrogels build a bridge from bench to bedside. Nano Today, (39), 101157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101157
- Chen, Y., Zhang, X., Lu, X., Wu, H., Zhang, D., Zhu, B., & Huang, S. (2022). Ultra-sensitive responsive near-infrared fluorescent nitroreductase probe with strong specificity for imaging tumor and detecting the invasiveness of tumor cells. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 268, 120634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2021.120634
- Xiao, M., Qiu, J., Kuang, R., Zhang, B., Wang, W., & Yu, Q. (2019). Synergistic effects of stromal cell-derived factor-1α and bone morphogenetic protein-2 treatment on odontogenic differentiation of human stem cells from apical papilla cultured in the VitroGel 3D system. Cell and Tissue Research, 378(2), 207–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-019-03045-3
- Borzi, C., Calzolari, L., Ferretti, A. M., Caleca, L., Pastorino, U., Sozzi, G., & Fortunato, O. (2019). c-Myc shuttled by tumour-derived extracellular vesicles promotes lung bronchial cell proliferation through miR-19b and miR-92a. Cell Death & Disease, 10(10). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-019-2003-5
| Assay Kit | VitroGel Cell Invasion Assay Kit, VitroGel 3D Cell Invasion Assay Kit, VitroGel RGD Cell Invasion Assay Kit, VitroGel IKVAV Cell Invasion Assay Kit, VitroGel YIGSR Cell Invasion Assay Kit, VitroGel COL Cell Invasion Assay Kit, VitroGel MMP Cell Invasion Assay Kit |
|---|---|
| Assay Kit Configuration | 1 mL + (12) VitroPrime™ Cell Culture Inserts, 4 mL + (48) VitroPrime™ Cell Culture Inserts |
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