Films formed from 1,12-diphosphonododecane were treated with zirconium tetra (tert-butoxide) to give surface Zr complex species; derivatives of these surface complexes are stable to hydrolysis under physiological conditions and are mechanically strong. The cell attractive peptide derivative ARG-GLY-ASP-CYS, RGDC can be bound to these surface Zr alkoxide complexes through (maleimido) alkylcarboxylate intermediates. Surfaces modified with RGDC were shown to be effective for osteoblast binding and proliferation.