A novel approach to self-assembled and shell-crosslinked (SCL) micelles from the diblock copolymer poly(L-lactide)-block-poly(L-cysteine) to be used as drug and protein delivery carriers is described. Rifampicin was used as a model drug. The drug-loaded SCL micelles were obtained by self-assembly of the copolymer in the presence of the drug in aqueous media. Their morphology and size were studied with dynamic light scattering and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The rifampicin loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency were studied with ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry. The drug-release rate in vitro depended on the oxidizing and reducing environment. Moreover, a straightforward approach to the conjugation of the copolymer with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was developed, and a gel electrophoresis test demonstrated that this conjugated BSA could be reversibly released from the copolymer substrate under reducing conditions. In conclusion, this L-cysteine copolymer can be used in drug delivery and in protein fixation and recovery. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 1738-1742, 2010