The biophysical characteristics of microcapsule membranes are described Thus, the methods of preparing water-loaded microcapsules are given first, and then the permeability of the microcapsules towards solutes is discussed as a function of microcapsule size. The distribution of fixed charges in microcapsule membranes is determined from their electrophoretic mobilities at different pH and ionic strengths. The disintegration phenomenon of microcapsule membranes caused by the action of fibrous proteins and some practical applications of microcapsules in biotechnology are also mentioned.