polymers produced by marine plants and animals have been long valued as food and industrial ingredients. recent developments in biotechnology, enzyme technology, and food and biochemical engineering have lead to new applications for these marine biopolymers. in the biomedical field, research is under way at mit to develop a process for the encapsulation of mammalian cells prior to a transplantation operation. within the food industry, marine biopolymers have always played an important role, such as stabilizers, and gelling ingredients, etc. mit has undertaken several research projects to devise new applications for marine biopolymers in the food industry. contents include: chitosan fibers, films and globules; encapsulation of biologicals with chitosan; fluorescence sensor for food and oil deterioration; stabilization of alcohol oxidase by entrapment in alginate beads; complex marine biopolymer coacervate capsules in plant technology; microencapsulated liposomes: use of alginate for drug delivery system