Surfaces useful for cell culture comprise a support to which is bound a CAR material, and, bound to the CAR material, an ECM protein, or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof such as elastin, fibronectin, vitronectin, lamninin, collagen I, collagen III, collagen IV, and collagen VI. Also, optionally present on the surface is an active factor, preferably a polycationic polymer or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof, such as polyethyleneimine (PEI), poly-D-lysine (PDL), poly-L-lysine (PLL), poly-D-ornithine (PDO) or poly-L-ornithine (PLO). This surface is used in cell culture to promote cell attachment, survival, maintenance of function, and / or proliferation of primary liver cells. The invention also relates to methods utilizing this surface, such as methods for attachment, survival, maintenance of function, and / or proliferation of cells. Further disclosed is the use of the surface in cell culture with serum-free medium. Methods of screening using the surface of the invention are also disclosed.