📋 Workflow
Full workflow, products add-to-cart directly1
Transwell chamber setup
30 minFor invasion, coat upper chamber with Matrigel to gel; migration uses bare chamber
💡 Tip Thaw Matrigel at 4°C before coating
⚠️ Caution Matrigel must pre-gel for even coating
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2
Cell seeding
30 minSerum-starve, seed at high density in upper well, add chemoattractant medium to lower well
💡 Tip Starvation lowers background migration
⚠️ Caution Level fluid between wells to avoid gravity effects
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3
Migration incubation
24–48 hIncubate set time in CO2 incubator for cells to cross the membrane
💡 Tip Time depends on cell motility
⚠️ Caution Avoid overlong culture causing detachment
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4
Fix, stain and count
1 hWipe off non-migrated upper cells, fix with formaldehyde, stain with crystal violet, count crossed cells
💡 Tip Thoroughly wipe upper cells
⚠️ Caution Count multiple fields and average
🧪 Materials for this step (click to shop by spec/brand)
⚠️ 5 Common Beginner Mistakes
- ① Ungelled Matrigel inflates invasion
- ② Unwiped upper cells inflate counts
- ③ Uneven meniscus causes hydrostatic bias
- ④ No starvation raises background migration
- ⑤ Improper time yields over- or under-migration
❓ FAQ
+Migration vs invasion?
Invasion adds Matrigel to model ECM degradation; migration only crosses membrane.
+How to quantify?
Count cells at 200× or dissolve crystal violet and read OD.
+Why cells cluster in lower well?
Chemoattractant gradient attraction is normal; quantify on membrane surface.