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Alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules have been explored as vehicles for therapeutic drug and cell delivery. The permselectivity of these capsules provides a unique means of controlled drug release and immunoisolation of encapsulated cells. Immunoisolation is especially attractive as it abrogates the need for chronic immunosuppressive therapy and opens up the possibility for the delivery of numerous cell sources including xenogeneic grafts. APA microcapsules containing cellular therapeutics have proven effective in the short-term treatment of a wide range of diseases requiring enzyme or endocrine replacement therapy, including type I diabetes. If these microcapsules could be noninvasively monitored with X-ray imaging modalities (i.e., fluoroscopy, CT, and digital subtraction angiography), questions such as the ideal transplantation site, the best means of delivery, and the long-term survival of …