Method to Preserve Cells

Abstract

Methods are disclosed that provide for the preservation of living human and other cells at room temperature or higher temperatures which can be applied to research, medical and defense applications. These methods represent a significant improvement relative to currently used methods that employ preservation at cryogenic temperatures. Using these methods, living human and other cells can be stored at room temperature or higher, and subsequently be recovered as living cells capable of dividing and exhibiting other well recognized properties of living cells.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A method for the preservation of cells comprising the steps of: 
 a. incubating cells under conditions which induce formation of spheroids,    b. removing fluid growth media from said spheroids, then,    c. storing said cells in a container that prevents further drying of the spheroids, thereby preserving said cells.    
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said cells are stored at about 20 degrees.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said removing step includes evaporation of fluid growth media.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said cells are human embryonic kidney cells.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said cells are human B cells.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said cells are neural stem cells.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said growth media is buffered using a non-volatile buffer.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said growth media is buffered with HEPES.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said growth media is buffered using a non-volatile buffer at a pH of about 7.2.  
   
   
       16 . Cells prepared by the steps of: 
 a. incubating cells under conditions which induce formation of spheroids,    b. removing excess fluid media from said spheroids,    c. further removing excess fluid media by drying said spheroids,    d. storing said spheroids in a container than prevents further drying of said spheroids,    e. adding fluid growth media to the spheroids.    
   
   
       17 . Cells prepared by the steps of: 
 a. removing cells from a container in which they are growing,    b. placing said cells upon a layer of agarose containing cell growth media to produce a cell-agarose assembly,    c. removing excess fluid media from the cell-agarose assembly to produce a desiccated cell-agarose assembly, wherein said removal of excess fluid growth media is carried out so as to prevent the aggregation of substantial a fraction of said cells,    d. storing said cells in a container that prevents substantial evaporation of water from the desiccated cell-agarose assembly,    e. adding fluid cell growth media to said desiccated cell-agarose assembly.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of dessicating said spheroids.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of storing said spheroids under N 2 .  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of storing said spheroids under vacuum.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said incubating step includes the step of placing the cells on a layer of agarose containing cell growth media.