Cryopreservation of cultured skin cells.

Cryopreservation of human skin keratinocytes and fibroblast cells has been evaluated using three cryoprotectants at various concentrations, three cooling rates and two warming rates. Optimal combinations of factors were determined. Selection for tolerance to cryopreservation was not detected after repeated freeze/thaw cycles. A beneficial effect of serum was shown to be cooling rate dependent.