A method for identifying one or more extracellular matrix component and/or matricellular protein that improves viability and retention of cells on a substrate after thawing the cells from a cryopreserved state, comprising: selecting the cells of a specific cell type; treating a substrate with one or more different extracellular matrix components and/or adding one or more matricellular protein to the substrate or the cells in a cell culture medium; plating the cells on the substrate; cryopreserving the cells on the substrate by cooling the cells to a cryopreservation temperature; thawing the cells by: first warming the cells from the cryopreservation temperature by exposing the substrate containing the cells to a first environment having a first warming temperature greater than the cryopreservation temperature; and then further warming the cells from the first warming temperature by exposing the cells to a second environment having a second warming temperature that is greater than the first warming temperature; and evaluating the cells to determine viability and retention of the cells on the substrate to identify at least one extracellular matrix component and/or at least one matricellular component that improves cell viability and retention after thawing the cells from a cryopreserved state, wherein the one or more matricellular protein is selected from the group consisting of tenascin-C, tenascin-X, SPARC, periostin, CCN-1, osteopontin and mixtures thereof. selecting the cells of a specific cell type; treating a substrate with one or more different extracellular matrix components and/or adding one or more matricellular protein to the substrate or the cells in a cell culture medium; plating the cells on the substrate; cryopreserving the cells on the substrate by cooling the cells to a cryopreservation temperature; thawing the cells by: first warming the cells from the cryopreservation temperature by exposing the substrate containing the cells to a first environment having a first warming temperature greater than the cryopreservation temperature; and then further warming the cells from the first warming temperature by exposing the cells to a second environment having a second warming temperature that is greater than the first warming temperature; and evaluating the cells to determine viability and retention of the cells on the substrate to identify at least one extracellular matrix component and/or at least one matricellular component that improves cell viability and retention after thawing the cells from a cryopreserved state, first warming the cells from the cryopreservation temperature by exposing the substrate containing the cells to a first environment having a first warming temperature greater than the cryopreservation temperature; and then further warming the cells from the first warming temperature by exposing the cells to a second environment having a second warming temperature that is greater than the first warming temperature; and evaluating the cells to determine viability and retention of the cells on the substrate to identify at least one extracellular matrix component and/or at least one matricellular component that improves cell viability and retention after thawing the cells from a cryopreserved state, <EOS>