In this study, thiolated alginate was synthesized by introduction of cysteine to alginate to prepare mucoadhesive alginate/poly (L-lysine)/thiolated alginate (APTA) microcapsules for efficient oral delivery of Lactobacillus salivarius 29 (LS29), a novel therapeutic Lactobacillus strain, in vitro and in vivo. About 759 +/- 32.4 microM of cysteine per gram of alginate was introduced by estimation of Ellman's reagent reaction. LS29-loaded APTA microcapsules provided suitable morphology, size, and a high loading content and efficiency. LS29 in LS29-loaded APTA microcapsules were effectively protected from simulated gastric condition (pH 2.0) than that of unprotected LS29. LS29 were released from APTA microcapsules in simulated intestinal condition (pH 7.2) with a time-dependent manner. The in vitro and in vivo mucoadhesion study suggested that APTA microcapsules had remarkably stronger mucoadhesive property and provided a promising delivery system for oral administration of LS29.