Biomineralized polysaccharide alginate membranes with multi-responsive drug release property were prepared via a one-step method. The formation of a biomineralized polysaccharide composition in the membrane was clearly identified through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive Xray spectrometer (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Additionally, the calcium phosphate mineralized component could be found not only in the surface but also in the cross section of the membranes. Drug release behaviours were examined by using indomethacin as a model drug, and the release profiles of the developed membrane were found to be pH-, thermo- and ionic strength-responsive. The drug release of the biomineralized polysaccharide alginate membranes was around 80% within 600 min, while that of the unmineralized ones was almost 100%. These results indicate that the biomineralized polysaccharide component can prevent the permeation of the encapsulated drug and reduce the drug release effectively. The resulting membranes can be used as "smart" polysaccharide material for sustained multi-responsive drug delivery. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.