Relationships between ionizable group content, structure and molecular weight, solubility and solution behaviour, and the efficacy of ionic complex formation through complex coacervation, have been established for a range of sparingly soluble synthetic weak polyelectrolyte polymers with low charge content, based on hydroxyalkyl methacrylates. Selected polymers containing methacrylic acid (acidic) and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (basic) functionality show promise as capsule-forming pairs for the entrapment of mammalian cells. The solubility of basic polymers and their ability to form microcapsules with structural integrity is enhanced through quaternization of the N-methyl functionality to the quaternary ammonium group. The survival of guinea-pig erythrocytes encapsulated for 4 d in this promising system was shown by the Drabkin's test to be about 41% of the control sample.