A composition which can bind heparin and promote cellular adhesion and neurite outgrowth is provided which consists essentially of a polypeptide of the formula: See Patent for Tabular Presentation PS See Patent for Tabular Presentation PS See Patent for Tabular Presentation PSSee Patent for Tabular Presentation PS See Patent for Tabular Presentation PS See Patent for Tabular Presentation PS See Patent for Tabular Presentation PS or mixtures thereof. Medical devices such as prosthetic implants, percutaneous devices and cell culture substrates coated with the polypeptide composition are also provided. Cell culture substrates provided can be made of a synthetic resin and in the form of a bead, microporous fiber or well of a microtiter plate.