The embodiments relate to surface-binding peptides having the capability of binding to surfaces of biocompatible materials and can thereby be used to immobilize various heterologous molecules of interest onto the surface. This means that surfaces of, for instance, implants and implantable medical devices can be tailored to present various characteristics by immobilizing selected heterologous molecules of interest on the surfaces of the implants and implantable medical devices. The surface-binding peptides consist of 4-17 consecutive amino acids of an extended beta-hairpin motif EIIATMKKKGEKRCLNP in Interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10).
