Media additives for protecting freely suspended animal cells against agitation and aeration damage.

Over the past 30 years, several different additives have been used to protect freely suspended animal cells in culture from agitation and aeration damage. These include pluronic polyols, various derivatized celluloses and starches, protein mixtures, polyvinyl-pyrrolidones, dextrans, and, more recently, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol. The protective mechanisms of these additives are not yet fully understood, but recent studies suggest both fluid-mechanical and biological mechanisms of protection.