An implantable metallic surface consisting of titanium (Ti) was modified with natural bone-mimicking CNT-Gelatin-HA nanohybrids to create a new surface with similar properties to the surrounding bone tissue in terms of the chemical constitution, nanotopography, wettability, and biocompatibility. The biomimetic surface modification was achieved through the covalent immobilization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto the Ti surface, the covalent tethering of gelatin molecules onto the CNT surface, and then the deposition of hydroxyl apatite (HA) crystals onto the gelatin-tethered CNTs in SBF solution. The SEM microscopic images demonstrated that the modified Ti surface continually maintained a fibrous structure of CNTs, but that the CNT fibers were hybridized with gelatin and HA in a multi-core-shell structure of similar constitution to that of the collagen fibers of natural bone. The new surface of the Ti substrates showed significantly higher mechanical properties and favorable wettability and biocompatibility. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.