Choosing Optimal Harvesting Solutions

There are many reagents available for harvesting anchorage-dependent cells. Options include solutions that are animal-derived, recombinant or fully synthetic. Additionally, the mechanisms by which the reagents work varies. Some work via enzymes such as proteases or collagenases, while other options can be completely non-enzymatic and act via chelation of ions that aid in cell interaction with plastic. The most appropriate harvesting solution should consider the biology of the cell and further downstream applications. Although some harvesting reagents are more common than others, each can impact cell recovery, viability, and functionality. In this article, we highlight commonly used harvesting reagents and their advantages.