Disclosed herein is a method of making a film, the method comprising depositing a first layer polyelectrolyte on a surface of a substrate to form a first layer; and depositing a second layer polyelectrolyte on the first layer polyelectrolyte to form a second layer. The first layer polyelectrolyte, the second layer polyelectrolyte, or both, is deposited on the substrate in the presence of a polymeric precipitant; and the first layer polyelectrolyte and the second layer polyelectrolyte have net charges of opposite polarity. Also disclosed are methods of improving bioactive molecule retention during fabrication of a polyelectrolyte multilayer film.