Multipotency of hMSCs confirmed prior to encapsulation, as cultured hMSCs were differentiated into (a) chondrogenic, (b) adipogenic and (c) osteogenic phenotypes as demonstrated by collagen type II, oil red O and alizarin red staining. (d) FACS analysis demonstrated that hMSCs expressed typical MSC surface markers: CD73, CD90 and CD105; but not hematopoietic markers: CD45, CD34, CD11b, CD79A and HLA-DR. (e) Light microscopic appearance of encapsulated hMSCs immediately following sodium alginate encapsulation showed capsule diameters of 170 ± 27 μm. (f) Fluorescent viability assay, staining live cells green and dead cells red, showed 96 ± 2.4 % of cells were viable immediately following encapsulation in sodium alginate. Scale bars = 100 μm.