We demonstrate a new one-batch approach to the fabrication of a biocompatible Ca-alginate film with embedded vitamin E-loaded microspheres that could be used for planar dermal drug delivery. Stable vitamin E microspheres, coated with gum acacia, are produced by ultrasonic treatment of a two-phase liquid system. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicates an interaction between biopolymer functional groups induced by ultrasonication. Confocal laser fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrate a homogeneous microsphere distribution within the Ca-alginate polymer film. The kinetics of in vitro vitamin E release found for the polymer film with entrapped microspheres was much more sustained (100% in 96 h) compared to the polymer film with vitamin E embedded in the free state (100% in 5 h). The novelty of the proposed research involves the ultrasonic fabrication of loaded microspheres and formation of biodegradable coating directly doped with microspheres. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.