Abstract: Described herein are tissue culture plates with permeable tissue culture plate inserts therein, which provides the tissue culture plates with apical chamber and a basolateral chambers, wherein cells are deposited on the permeable tissue culture inserts and essentially all of tissue culture medium has been removed from the apical chambers of the tissue culture plates and the basolateral chambers of the tissue culture plates contain a solidifiable form of cell culture medium. Also described are cells that can be deposited and grown on the described tissue culture inserts, methods for transporting a tissue culture plate with a permeable tissue culture plate insert therein on which cells are deposited. Also described is a kit for transporting the tissue culture plates described above, and corresponding methods of use.