Investigation of cell dynamics in vitro by time lapse microscopy and image analysis

Pharmacological research is continuously working on the development of new drugs. This research typically starts from the formulation of new molecules that are first investigated at the cell scale, finally is completed with clinical trials. Investigation on the cell scale requires simple, reproducible and reliable assays, able to simulate physiological conditions in the lab. A wide range of biological processes, such as angiogenesis, inflammation, tissue regeneration, tumour growth and invasion, are strongly linked to cell proliferation and migration mechanisms that govern the dynamic evolution of both individual cells and cell aggregates. In this work we present an experimental methodology for the quantitative investigation of cell dynamics in vitro by live imaging of biological soft matter. Cell motility is observed by means of a Time Lapse Microscopy workstation, consisting of a motorized video-microscope equipped with an incubating system, and quantified by image analysis techniques. We report some preliminary experimental results relative to the migration of a tumour cell line both in random condition and in presence of an external stimulus, such as a chemical concentration gradient. The ultimate goal of this research is the development of a standard assay to be used as a test for drug efficiency, suitable for routine application in the pharmaceutical research.