Disclosed herein are multilayer films comprising two or more layers of polyelectrolytes, wherein adjacent layers comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. A first layer polypeptide comprising one or more first amino acid sequence motifs, wherein the one or more first amino acid sequence motifs has a length of 5 to 15 amino acids residues, and wherein the balance of charge in the first amino acid sequence motif at pH 7 is greater than or equal to approximately one-half of the length of the first amino acid sequence motif, wherein the first layer polypeptide is not a homopolymer. Further, a second layer comprises second layer polyelectrolyte comprising a nonprotein polyelectrolyte having a charge opposite that of the first layer polypeptide.