Here we present a novel matrix-mimetic nanoassembly based on polysaccharides. Chitosan electrospun fiber networks are decorated with heparin-containing polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PCNs) that present basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), both stably adsorbed to the surfaces and released into solution. These FGF-2/PCN complexes can be released from the fibers with zero-order kinetics over a period of 30 days. Further modification of fibers with a single bilayer of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) composed of N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan and heparin completely prevent release, and the FGF-2/PCN complexes are retained on the fibers for the duration of the release experiment (30 days). We also compare the mitogenic activity of these FGF-2/PCN complexes delivered in two different states: adsorbed to a surface and dissolved in solution. FGF-2/PCN complexes exhibit mitogenic activity with respect to ovine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, even after being preconditioned by incubating for 27 days at 37 C in solution. However, when the FGF-2/PCN complexes are adsorbed to chitosan and coated with PEMs, the mitogenic activity of the FGF-2 steadily decreases with increasing preconditioning time. This work demonstrates a new system for stabilizing and controlling the delivery of heparinbinding growth factors, using polysaccharide-based matrix-mimetic nanomaterials. This work also contributes to our understanding of the preferred mode of growth factor delivery from porous scaffolds. © 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.