The chemical strategy presented herein is the nondestructive preparation of resorbable polymer scaffolds with heparin covalently bonded to the surface and an osteoinductive growth factor, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2, immobilized in the heparin layer. The coupling scheme involves functionalization of surfaces by grafting in the vapor phase with poly(L-lactide) and poly (e-caprolactone) films chosen as representative substrates. The biocompatibility of functionalized surfaces was verified by a much improved attachment and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).