CELL CULTURE
A cell culture surface comprising a substrate and a polymer comprising a carboxylic acid monomer, wherein the carboxylic acid concentration of the polymer is from 3 % to 33 %.
1 . A method for the culture of stem cells comprising the steps of:
i) contacting stem cells with a cell culture surface comprising a cell culture substrate and a polymer comprising a carboxylic acid monomer, wherein the carboxylic acid concentration of the polymer is from 3% to 33%; and
ii) providing conditions which promote the proliferation of the stem cells.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the stem cells are mammalian cells.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cells are human cells.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said stem cells are embryonic stem cells.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said stem cells are maintained in culture in an un-differentiated state.
6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid concentration of the polymer is from 5% to 20%.
7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein the carboxylic acid concentration of the polymer is from 8% to 15%.
8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid monomer is an acrylic acid.
9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is an acid co-polymer.
10 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein the polymer is a co-polymer of a carboxylic acid monomer and an alcohol monomer.
11 . A method according to claim 10 , wherein the alcohol is an allyl alcohol.
12 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein the polymer is a co-polymer of a carboxylic acid monomer and a hydrocarbon monomer.
13 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon is 1,7-octadiene.
14 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a non-porous polymer.
15 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein the substrate is a solid phase substrate.
16 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is porous.
17 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein the substrate is a woven material.
18 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is deposited on the substrate.
19 . A method according to claim 18 , wherein said polymer provides a gradient on said substrate.
20 . A method according to claim 19 , wherein said gradient is essentially parallel to a plane surface area of said substrate.
21 .- 50 . (canceled)