Objective To investigate the chemotaxis of stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF1) in vitro and in vivo. Methods Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were cultivated from SD rats. Transwell test was used to evaluate the influences of different concentration of SDF1 on chemotaxis of BMSC. MTT test was used to analyze the effects of different concentration of SDF1 on the cell viability of BMSC. 100 ng/mL SDF1-loaded PLGA was implanted in nude mice to study the the chemotaxis of SDF1 in vivo. Results All 4 groups of SDF1 (10 ng/mL, 50 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL and 200 ng/mL) recruited more BMSC than the control group, and 100 ng/mL SDF1 showed better results than the other groups. 200 ng/mL SDF1 deceased cell viability of BMSC on day 1, 4 and 7, while 10 ng/mL, 50 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL SDF1 had no effects on the the viability of BMSC. In vivo analysis showed that 100 ng/mL SDF1 could promote cell recruitment. Conclusion 100 ng/mL SDF1 could effectively promote BMSC recruitment without influence on cell viability in vitro and 100 ng/mL SDF1 could promote cell homing in vivo.