Alternative coatings for load-bearing medical implants are required. Those prepared in the biomimetic approach reported here have three important features: the mesostructure is aligned even on amorphous substrates, they can be photocalcined, and they precipitate apatite in simulated body fluid (SBF). The Figure shows the surface of such a mesoporous silica coating on Ti6A14V after immersion in SBF for 15 days.