Abstract: Objective Alginate-chitosan porous composite scaffold prepared and optimized was used to culture human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in order to provide the application of stem cells in tissue engineering and disease treatment. Methods We prepared porous composite scaffold, and which was optimized by grafting polylysine on its surface. Next, mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from umbilical cord, seeded and serially cultured in the scaffolds. Cell growth and proliferation were monitored, and cell proliferation curves were made using cytometry and CCK-8 kit techniques. Moreover, stem cell ageing was evaluated by senescence β-Galactosidase staining kit. Results This assay successfully prepared and optimized the alginate-chitosan composite scaffold. We found that the mesenchymal stem cells could easily attach to and cover the surface of the scaffold grafted with polylysine. Moreover, the stem cells grew in agglomerates rapidly. Conclusions This result proves that the alginate-chitosan scaffold provides a suitable environment for cell growth and has the feasibility for cell culture in vitro. This scaffold can be used as potential material for tissue engineering applications.

Key words: sodium alginate, chitosan, polylysine, mesenchymal stem cell