Continuous perfusion of mammalian cells embedded in agarose gel threads

A method for perfusing cells by embedding them in fine agarose gel threads is described and characterized. The rate of diffusion of a metabolite into the gel threads is determined by 31P-NMR spectroscopy. This perfusion method is shown to enable Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (CHLF) to remain in a metabolically active state with high levels of intracellular ATP for many hours.