MICRO-FLUIDIC DEVICE FOR MEASUREMENTS OF CELL MIGRATION IN RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL STIMULI

摘要

The invention relates to a device for making measurements of the migration of cells in response to exposure to a gradient of concentration of a chemoat tractive substance (chemotaxis). In particular, the invention relates to a device comprising a first site designed to receive a specimen of cells, and at least one second site designed to receive a substance potentially capable of influencing chemotaxis, wherein the first and second sites are fluidically connected together by a containing duct, and are arranged along an axis A directed between the first site and the second site with a non-uniform density, a plurality of obstacle elements that create along the duct a gradient in the free section of passage at the disposal of the cells, which is defined by a corresponding plurality of micro- channels directed parallel to the axis A and having a pre-set transverse dimension d.