178 Cell and Material Interface
found to signicantly increase the viability of cells in a small quartz micro capillary,
suggesting that the small alginate microcapsule is a good system for preserving cells.
In a study by the Sambanis group,
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recombinant insulin-secreting C2C12 myo-
blasts were encapsulated in oxidized RGD-alginate and cryopreserved with slow
cooling or vitrication. As a quality control for the preservation procedures, the
metabolic activity and insulin secretion levels were assessed 3days after thawing
of the myoblasts containing samples. The results showed that vitried cells have
lower metabolic activity than freshly prepared myoblasts. On the other hand, no
differences in the metabolic activity were observed between the ...