Phospholipid vesicles on polyelectrolyte multilayer shells can be stabilized against ethanol by coating a single cationic polyelectrolyte. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) proved that the lipids were stabilized by cationic polyelectrolytes and the permeability to small hydrophilic dyes was decreased. Measurements of fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP) with individual capsules enable quantification of release profiles. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science (USA).