Using gelatin and acacia as wall and capsaicin as core substance, nanocapsules were prepared by mixing two solutions of oppositely charged polymers, and then treated by hydrolysable tannins. The morphology and size distribution of the nanocapsules were analyzed by transmission electron microscope and laser particle size analyzer, respectively. The nanocapsules had a mean diameter of 300600 nm, with mean drug, loading content (20.81%) and encapsulation efficiency (81.17%) with good dispersion and spherical morphology. The interaction between gelatin and tannins is discussed in the article. Moreover, the addition of hydrolysable tannins in the system had an important influence on the morphology and particle distribution of the nanocapsules because of the synergistic actions of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic effects. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.