Biologically active conjugated polymers, for example polyaniline (PANI), have drawn attention as emerging materials for applications in bio-medical implant devices, due to their inherent abilities with regard to charge-carrier properties, and their ability to immobilize biomolecules or proteins. Herein, we report an electrocoating of PANI on titania nanotubes (TNTs) via electrochemical oxidation of aniline with PANI layers of appropriate thickness (∼274?nm). Uniform titanium oxide nanotubes were first developed from titanium (Ti) foil through an anodization process, followed by calcination to obtain high purity TNTs vertically aligned on a Ti substrate. These had a large surface area, controllable tube height and diameter, and were highly biocompatible, and doping with PANI further improved their properties, like being antibacterial, having a lower charge transfer resistance (22.51?Ω) and strong anti-corrosion behavior (Ecorr ∼?? 184?mV, Icorr ∼?9.7?×?10?7 Amp). In vitro experiments revealed that the cellular functions of PC12 and S42 cells on TNTs-PANI scaffolds show characteristic improvement in proliferation and differentiation owning to approach neuronal cells activation associated with axonal growth and migration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Thus, the flexible bioactive substrate is capable of stimulating neuronal cells, and can inspire neural transduction through direct neural interfaces.
