Porous scaffolds of alginate/galactosylated chitosan (ALG/GC) sponges were prepared by lyophilization for liver-tissue engineering. Primary hepatocytes in ALG/GC sponges showed higher cell attachment and viability than in alginate alone owing to the specific interaction of the asialoglycoprotein receptors on hepatocyte with the galactose residues on ALG/GC sponges. Improvements in spheroid formation and long-term liver-specific functions of the immobilized hepatocyte were also observed in ALG/GC sponge.