Abstract: The present invention relates to a functionalised polymer, methods of preparing the functionalised polymer, and compositions comprising the functionalised polymer. The present invention also relates to methods of using the functionalised polymer including for forming a polymer composition comprising cells from a tissue sample and for cell therapy.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to cells and compositions comprising same for use in cell therapy, to methods of obtaining same, and to use of same in cell therapy. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for forming a cell composition from a tissue sample, the method comprising: providing a tissue sample comprising cells; contacting the sample with a polymer in binding conditions, said binding conditions being conditions that enable binding of cells in the sample to the polymer, so that said cells are bound to the polymer; culturing the cells bound to the polymer under conditions and for a time that allows the cell number to increase; providing conditions to induce a phase change of the polymer; thereby forming a cell composition from a tissue sample.