Cell　delivery　in　cell　therapy　is　typically　challenged　by　the　low　cell　survival　rate　and　immunological　rejection　during　cells　injection　and　circulation.　Encapsulation　of　cells　with　semipermeable　hydrogels　or　membranes　can　improve　cell　viability　by　resisting　high　shear　force　and　inhibit　immune　response　with　the　physical　isolation　effect.　Herein,　the　individual　HeLa　cells　and　human　mesenchymal　stem　cells　(hMSCs)　were　encapsulated　with　enzyme　responsive　polymer　nanoshell.　The　encapsulation　shell　was　prepared　via　the　Layer-by-Layer　(LbL)　assembly　of　functionalized　gelatin　and　click　chemistry　of　peptide　linker　and　gelatin.　The　encapsulated　cells　showed　high　cell　viability　and　could　resist　the　physical　stress.　Moreover,　the　encapsulation　shell　had　a　prolonged　encapsulation　sustaining　period　and　could　effectively　prevent　the　invasion　of　external　entities.　In　addition,　on-site　cell　release　was　realized　via　enzymolysis　of　the　encapsulation　shell　by　human　matrix　metalloproteinase-7　(MMP-7),　an　overexpressed　enzyme　on　tumor　area.　The　finding　of　this　study　proved　a　potential　approach　in　cell　therapy,　especially　for　cell-based　cancer　therapy.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd