Storage articles for prolonged viability and function of living cells

摘要

An article has been developed which unexpectedly prolongs the viability of living cells or cell aggregates and which maintains the biological function and viability of the stored cells for very long periods of time. Also provided is a novel method of storing and culturing cells which is especially useful for accumulating large numbers of cells for therapeutic purposes, including transplantation into human patients to alleviate disease processes. The invention method involves surrounding cells or cell aggregates with a suitable cell-protective layer, thereby providing articles of various sizes and shapes.