Method for assaying cell movement

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of molecular diagnostics, and in particular to diagnostics based on a liquid crystal assay format. In particular, the present invention provided improved substrates and methods of using liquid crystal assays for quantitating the amount of an analyte in a sample. The present invention also provides materials and methods for detecting non-specific binding of an analyte to a substrate by using a liquid crystal assay format.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An assay apparatus comprising a surface having at least one discreet assay region, said discrete assay region comprising at least one cell seeding region and at least one test compound formulated for controlled release. 
     
     
         2 . The assay apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said test compound formulated for controlled release is provided in a matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The assay apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said matrix is a polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The assay apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said matrix is selected from the group consisting of chitosan, chitosan-alginate, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels, lipid microspheres, copolymers of polylactic and polyglycolic acid, dextran hydrogels, and poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels. 
     
     
         5 . The assay apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said matrix further comprises an extracellular matrix component. 
     
     
         6 . The assay apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said extracellular matrix component is selected from the group consisting of collagen, vitronectin, fibronectin, and laminin. 
     
     
         7 . The assay apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cell seeding region comprises an extracellular matrix component. 
     
     
         8 . The assay apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said test compound is selected from the group consisting of polypeptides, sugars, amino acids and small molecule organic compounds. 
     
     
         9 . The assay apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said polypeptides are selected from the group consisting of integrin binding sequences and growth factors. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said sugars are selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, galactose and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said small molecule organic compounds are selected from the group consisting of steroids, immunomodulators, hormones, antineoplastic drugs, antimetabolites, chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial drugs, NSAIDs, vasodialators, beta-adrenergic blockers, diuretics, anesthetics, antidepressants, sedatives, tranquilizers, vasoconstrictors, anti-ulcer drugs, stimulants, antihypertensive drugs and cholesterol lowering drugs. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said assay regions are configured for readouts selected from the group consisting of colorimetric, fluorimetric, optical density, and light scattering readouts. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cell seeding region contains at least one cell. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one assay region is configured to orient mesogens. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said test compound is suspected of promoting or inhibiting movement of said at least one cell. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one reservoir is fluidically connected to at least one microfluidic channel. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one reservoir fluidically contacts said at least one assay region. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising 6, 12, 24, 36, 96, 384, or 1536 assay regions. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said 6, 12, 24, 36, 96, 384, or 1536 of said assay regions are arranged in an array of a plurality of rows and columns. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said array of said assay regions is configured to correspond to the reading positions of a plate reader device. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising two or more test compounds formulated for controlled release. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one well having bottom and side surfaces, wherein said at least one discreet assay region is located on said bottom surface of said well, and wherein said matrix is located in said well. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said matrix is located on said side surface of said well. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said matrix is located on the bottom of said well. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said matrix is located in a discrete region of said well. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said discrete region is on the bottom of said well. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said discrete region is on the side of said well.