60% confluent human foreskin fibroblast (HFF2) primary cells were split into suspension over agarose to form spheroids and grown for an additional 4 days in suspension over agarose prepared with 15% FBS supplemented DMEM. Following growth, media was removed and the spheroids were stored on the surface of the agarose in vacuum sealed flasks for a 2 week interval at room temperature in the dark. The samples were compared against monolayer (at 60% confluence). All samples were conducted in triplicate. Samples from the two week arrest were removed from storage and supplemented with DMEM (Invitrogen) containing 15% FBS (spheroid recovery sample). These cells were then allowed to grow out as adherent monolayers for 7 days (monolayer recovery sample).
