Scratch Assay Device for Keratinocyte Wound Healing Studies

Scratch assays are widely used in wound-healing studies, however, current methods, which use a pipette tip to create the scratch and a light microscope to determine the width of the scratch, do not have reproducible results. We have designed and built a device which creates scratches of a precise and repeatable width ranging from 100-200μm depending on the needle tip. Using a spring-loaded mechanism, modeled after a blood glucose lancet used for diabetic testing, consistent scratches are sliced through the cell monolayers. A spring is compressed using a locking mechanism which, when released, propels the needle forward and creates a scratch in the cellular layer. The scratching component is stabilized by a frame with adjustable z-axis control of the slicing area that reduces vibrations generated when the spring releases. Magnets are used to immobilize the Petri dishes and well-plates while performing the scratch assay. The device could save time and allow for consistent data collection across all research groups studying physical cellular damage.

Faculty Mentor: Karissa Tilbury

Co-authors: Charles Merchant, Zachariah Cribbin