Surface-functionalized zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoparticles were synthesized using a combination of ion exchange and self-assembly techniques. The surface of ZrP was used as a platform to deposit tetravalent metal ions by direct ion exchange with the protons of the surface phosphate groups. Subsequently, phosphonic acids were attached to the metal ion layer, effectively functionalizing the ZrP nanoparticles. Use of axially oriented bisphosphonic acids led to the ability to build layer-by-layer assemblies from the nanoparticle surface. Varying the metal ion and ligand used allowed designable architectures to be synthesized on the nanoparticle surface. X-ray powder diffraction, XPS, electron microprobe, solid-state NMR, FTIR, and TGA were used to characterize the synthesized materials.