OBJECTIVE To investigate the feasibility of freeze-dried demineralized bone matrix (FDBM) as scaffold material in bone tissue engineering. METHODS Osteoblasts which were isolated from cranial periosteum of New Zealand rabbits were cultured as the seeding cells, then the cells were cocultured with heterogenous FDBM in vitro. The cell-material complex was observed under phase microscope, light microscope and electronic scanning microscope in order to evaluate the interaction between cells and FDBM. RESULTS Eight hours after coculture, the osteoblasts adhered to FDBM scaffolds. Seven days later, the osteoblasts differentiated and proliferated in FDBM network. Extracellular matrix was secreted and calcium nodes were formed among osteoblasts. CONCLUSION FDBM is a good scaffold material for the bone tissue engineering.