Abstract: Kong Yulong, Wang Keyu, Zhang Xiuwen, Ma Weiyuan. Department of Dermatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China Corresponding author: Wang Keyu, Email: wangkeyu@medmail.com.cn 【Abstract】 Objective To study the biocompatibility of carboxymethyl chitosan （CMCS） membrane with melanocytes from healthy human skin, and to investigate the feasibility to transport and carry melanocytes by using CMCS membrane. Methods CMCS membrane was prepared by a casting method combined with a glutaraldehyde-based cross-linking method. Melanocytes were isolated from the foreskin of healthy men, and subjected to primary culture and subculture. The third-passage melanocytes were classified into two groups to be cultured on the CMCS membrane （test group） or traditional culture plates （control group）. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium （MTT） assay was performed to evaluate the proliferative activity of melanocytes, and a sodium hydroxide-based lysis method to determine melanin content. HMB45 staining was conducted, and tyrosinase activity was estimated for melanocytes. Results Inverted microscopy showed that melanocytes were evenly distributed on the CMCS membrane with a normal shape. The melanocytes adherent to the CMCS membrane stained positive for anti-HMB45 monoclonal antibody. The growth curve of the melanocytes on the CMCS membrane, which was obtained from MTT assay, demonstrated that CMCS membrane could support the normal growth of melanocytes. No significant difference was observed between the test group and control group in melanin content （0.083 ± 0.015 vs. 0.066 ± 0.008, t = 2.38, P > 0.01） or tyrosinase activity （0.234 ± 0.083 vs. 0.241 ± 0.061, t = 0.23, P > 0.05）. Conclusion CMCS membrane can maintain the normal biological activity of melanocytes and have good biocompatibility with skin melanocytes.

Key words: Melanocytes, Chitosan, Membranes, artificial, Biocompatible materials