A copolymer that included a Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) sequence and sugar moieties was synthesized to culture pheochromocytoma cells (PC12). PC12 cells attached to poly(N-p-vinylbenzyl-D-maltonamide-co-6-(p-vinylbenzamido)-hexanoic acid-g-GRGDS) [p(VMA-co-VBGRGDS)]- coated dishes showed greater proliferation than on other polymer-coated surfaces. Enhancement in cell growth correlated with the ability of soluble Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) to inhibit cell adhesion to surfaces coated with p(VMA-co-VBGRGDS). This method for promoting cell proliferation may be useful for the culturing of anchorage-dependent cells. Furthermore, about 80% greater dopamine secretion from PC12 cells was produced with the p(VMA-co-VBGRGDS) as compared with PC12 cells on unmodified surfaces.