SMARTCHANNELS
PDMS microchannels for cell migration assays
Study how cells migrate, deform and respond to physical confinement using microchannels with defined geometries. SmartChannel® by 4Dcell provides PDMS-based microchannel devices for investigating cell migration, nuclear deformation and cell behavior in confined environments. Available as ready-to-use glass-bottom dishes or microfabrication kits, SmartChannel supports live-cell imaging and customizable experimental designs.
HOW SMARTCHANNEL WORKS
SmartChannel® technology uses precisely defined PDMS microchannels bonded to a glass substrate to create controlled physical environments for studying cell migration and behavior.
Different channel widths, heights and constriction geometries allow researchers to investigate how physical confinement influences cell motility, cellular and nuclear deformation, and the ability of cells to migrate through narrow spaces.
The glass-bottom design enables direct observation using live-cell microscopy, supporting the analysis of migration dynamics and cell responses to mechanical constraints.
Easy to use
High resolution imaging
Long term cell culture
Schematic illustration of SmartChannel microchannel geometries for investigating cell migration, physical confinement and cell–cell interactions.
APPLICATIONS OF MICROCHANNEL-BASED CELL MIGRATION ASSAYS
Immune cell migration
Investigate how immune cells navigate confined environments, including narrow passages that require cellular and nuclear deformation.
Microchannel assays can support the analysis of migration speed, directionality and the ability of cells to traverse physical constrictions.
(Human CD8 T lymphocyte in a constriction microchannel)
Image by Pablo Vargas (Institut Curie, UMR144)
and Fernando Sepulveda (Institut Imagine, UMR1163)
T cell migration through 3 µm constrictions in microchannels
Example of iBMD Cells migrating within microchannels of different sizes (0.5 image/min)
Réf. video by 4Dcell partner Dr Pablo Vargas, Curie Institute/UMR144
Cancer cell migration and invasion
Examine how cancer cells migrate through geometrically defined spaces and adapt to physical constraints.
Microchannels provide a controlled setting for investigating cell motility, nuclear deformation and migration behavior relevant to cancer invasion research.
Cell mechanics and nuclear deformability
Explore how physical confinement affects cell shape, nuclear morphology and migration dynamics.
Microchannels with different dimensions and constriction profiles allow researchers to investigate the mechanical adaptations required for cells to move through restricted environments.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications | SmartChannel |
|---|---|
Material | Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) |
Channel geometry | Straight channels and designs incorporating defined constrictions |
Available dimensions | Channel widths from 3 to 1,000 µm across the standard dish range, depending on the selected design. Additional custom dimensions are available. |
Culture format | 35 mm glass-bottom dishes for ready-to-use devices |
Glass thickness | Approximately 170 µm for SmartChannel dishes |
Imaging | Compatible with optical microscopy and live-cell imaging setups |
Customization | Channel dimensions and geometries can be adapted to experimental requirements |
SMARTCHANNEL IN PUBLISHED RESEARCH
SmartChannel microchannel technology has been used in published research investigating immune cell migration and the influence of physical confinement on cellular behavior.
Kaltenbach et al., Nature Immunology (2023).
Researchers used custom 4Dcell PDMS microchannels to investigate mast cell migration. The study included microchannels with widths of 9 and 10 µm and a height of 10 µm, providing a defined environment for analyzing integrin-dependent cell movement.
Shen et al., Journal of Cell Science (2023).
Researchers investigated the migration of human neutrophils through narrow microchannels using custom-designed microfluidic devices fabricated from molds supplied by 4Dcell.
The study examined how nuclear segmentation influences the ability of neutrophils to navigate confined spaces.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
EXPLORE THE SMARTCHANNEL PRODUCT RANGE
Discover our range of PDMS microchannel solutions for cell migration and confinement studies. Choose ready-to-use SmartChannel dishes or microfabrication kits to produce microchannel devices in your laboratory.
SmartChannel dishes – Ready-to-use microchannels
Pre-bonded PDMS microchannels in 35 mm glass-bottom dishes, designed for cell migration experiments and live-cell microscopy.
Available in different channel geometries and dimensions, including designs with constrictions for studying confined migration.
SmartChannel microfabrication kit – Fabricate your own devices
Produce PDMS microchannel devices in your laboratory using reusable molds and dedicated fabrication supplies.
The kit supports the production of multiple microchannel chips and provides flexibility in selecting channel designs.