The effect of cell culture substrate on cell tolerance to desiccation

The biopreservation sciences have typically relied on the utilization of low temperature to suppress or arrest cellular physiological function in an attempt to extend biological time. Recently, however, several reports have detailed successful anhydrobiotic (dry-state) preservation of cellular systems through the utilization of stabilizing molecules such as trehalose. In this study we investigated the influence of cell-substrate interaction during and following desiccation on cell survival in a human fibroblast model. Cells were dried on differing culture surfaces after allowing 10 min for cell attachment. Desiccated samples (15% residual moisture) were rehydrated and then cultured on differing extracellular matrices. Cells cultured on biologically active matrices (collagen, fibronectin, and laminin) following desiccation resulted in a significant improvement (>15%) in cell survival in comparison with poly-L-lysine and plasma treated tissue culture surfaces. Further, both desiccation and subsequent culture of samples on biologically active surfaces resulted in ∼30% increase in overall cell survival in comparison with standard culture. These findings indicate that cell-substrate interactions may play a substantial role in the success of anhydrobiotic preservation.