Abstract: Method of providing a substrate with a ready-to-use uniformly distributed extracellular matrix is disclosed. This method includes applying extracellular matrix components to a substrate area; incubating the extracellular matrix components to allow polymerization thereof; freezing the polymerized extracellular matrix on the substrate area; lyophilizing the frozen extracellular matrix on the substrate area; and allowing the lyophilized extracellular matrix to warm to room temperature. Also contemplated is a cell culture apparatus having a dried uniformly distributed extracellular matrix formed by the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: A porous membrane is coated with a composition which includes a reconstituted and aggregated extracellular matrix derived from the Englebreth-Holm-Swarm mouse tumor, a polyol and a pH 7.8-8.2 buffer. The coated membrane is dried, affixed to an insert portion of an assembly and received in a well of a multiwell tissue culture plate. The invention includes a method to make the coated membrane.

Abstract: Method of providing a substrate with a ready-to-use uniformly distributed extracellular matrix is disclosed. This method includes applying extracellular matrix components to a substrate area; incubating the extracellular matrix components to allow polymerization thereof; freezing the polymerized extracellular matrix on the substrate area; lyophilizing the frozen extracellular matrix on the substrate area; and allowing the lyophilized extracellular matrix to warm to room temperature. Also contemplated is a cell culture apparatus having a dried uniformly distributed extracellular matrix formed by the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: A porous membrane is coated with a composition which includes a reconstituted and aggregated extracellular matrix derived from the Englebreth-Holm-Swarm mouse tumor, a polyol and a pH 7.8-8.2 buffer. The coated membrane is dried, affixed to an insert portion of an assembly and received in a well of a multiwell tissue culture plate. The invention includes a method to make the coated membrane.

Abstract: A cell culture substrate is coated with a composition containing a cell adhesion promoter in a salt solution. A substrate such as plastic, glass or microporous fibers is coated with a composition containing about 5 .mu.g/ml to about 1000 .mu.g/ml of poly-D-lysine in an 0.005 M to about 0.5 M citrate or sulfate salt solution to provide about 50 .mu.l to about 500 .mu.l of the composition per cm.sup.2 of substrate, and the coated substrate is rinsed to remove extraneous materials and dried to obtain a coated substrate having increased shelf-life and/or stability. The coated substrate may be sterilized by rinsing with a sterilizing medium such as ethanol.