Patent ID: 8574906

Claim:
A method for treating a polymeric surface to define a cell culture surface for culturing mesenchymal stem cells or human embryonic stem cells thereon, the method comprising the steps of: a) coating the polymeric surface with a hydrogel consisting essentially of dextran, wherein said step of coating includes the steps of: i) depositing functional groups on said polymeric surface; wherein said functional groups are amines and ii) exposing said functional groups to a solution of hydrogel; and b) attaching proteins to said hydrogel coated surface; wherein said step of attaching proteins to said hydrogel-coated surface includes the steps of: i) activating said hydrogel-coated surface to produce at least one protein reactive group; and ii) exposing said hydrogel-coated surface to a solution of proteins or protein mixtures comprising human fibronectin and human collagen; and wherein said proteins or protein mixtures are covalently attached to the hydrogel-coated surface, thereby producing the cell culture surface for culturing mesenchymal stem cells or embryonic stem cells thereon wherein mesenchymal stem cells are cultured in greater number as compared to a cell culture surface formed by passive coating of said proteins and wherein human embryonic stem cells are cultured in an undifferentiated state.