Materials and methods for the generation of polyelectrolyte multilayers that can erode to release cationic components. The multilayers comprise layers that contain one or more cations and one or more charge-dynamic anionic polymers. Charge-dynamic anionic polymers contain side chains having removable functional groups. Removal of the functional groups results in a change in the net change in the charge of the polymer which can disrupt interactions between cations and the anionic polymers and facilitate release of cations.