the instant invention employs an array of rods packed into a suitable chamber to support the culture , e . g ., maintenance and / or growth of anchorage - dependent cells that effectively increases the surface area available for cell culture . adherent cells are seeded and propagated on the surface of the rods . each rod is accommodated with spacer devices that serve to make it immobile and ensure uniform access to liquid growth medium while minimizing abrasive damage to shear - sensitive cells . spacer devices of various designs allow the rods to be packed and anchored into bioreactors , e . g ., perfusion chambers with flow - through ports or into closed roller bottle - type chambers . simple monomeric designs of the rods and spacer devices allow for relative ease of manufacture and assembly including solid or hollow rods or supports constructed of fibers or strings consisting of flexible tissue culture treated material that is held fast by threading or knotting between suitable spacer devices with eyelets , holes or other anchoring fixtures . in some embodiments , the rods are composed of tissue culture - treated plastic packed into culture chambers as prepackaged , sterile , disposable single use items .