This study examined the influence of the current density on the surface characteristics and biological response of titanium oxide layers produced by a plasma electrolytic oxidation process. For this purpose, the present processes were carried out under alternating current conditions in a phosphate electrolyte for 300 s at current densities of 100, 150, 200, and 250 mA/cm(2). The pore size decreased with decreasing the current density, whereas the mean surface roughness and amount of anatase phase increased. This tendency is considered suitable for the formation of biomimetic apatite and the proliferation of osteoblast cells. The in vitro examinations showed that the formation of biomimetic apatite and the proliferation of osteoblasts on the titanium oxide layer produced at 100 mA/cm(2) were highest among the samples evaluated. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.