Healing of a skin wound is a complex process that requires collaborative efforts of different tissues and cell types. The behavior of each of the contributing cell type at the wound site, as well as the presence of growth factors and other matrix signals, are of crucial importance for correct healing. The healing process can indeed be arbitrary categorized in different phases: proliferation, migration, matrix synthesis, and angiogenesis (i.e. new blood vessel formation).

Evaluating the effect of a test product on wound healing can be done by relevant in vitro assays which adress the different pathways of the healing process.

In vitro wound healing Assays

• Evaluation of cell migration at a wound site using a "scratch" assay and/or a migration/invasion assay in Boyden chambers
• Measurement of cytokines secretion and protease activities
• Evaluation of angiogenesis by a co-culture assay mimicking the in vivo interactions between fibroblasts and endothelial cells during the proliferation phase
• Evaluation of cell proliferation, of importance in scar formation and maturation, using a BrdU incorporation assay

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