Conventional　Ti-based　implants　are　vulnerable　to　postsurgical　infection　and　improving　the　antibacterial　efficiency　without　compromising　the　osteogenic　ability　is　one　of　the　key　issues　in　bone　implant　design.　Although　zinc　oxide　(ZnO)　nanorods　grown　on　Ti　substrates　hydrothermally　can　improve　the　antibacterial　properties,　but　cannot　meet　the　stringent　requirements　of　bone　implants,　as　rapid　degradation　of　ZnO　and　uncontrolled　leaching　of　Zn2+　are　detrimental　to　peri-implant　cells　and　tissues.　To　solve　these　problems,　a　lattice-damage-free　method　is　adopted　to　modify　the　ZnO　nanorods　with　thin　calcium　phosphate　(CaP)　shells.　The　Ca　and　P　ions　from　the　CaP　shells　diffuse　thermally　into　the　ZnO　lattice　to　prevent　the　ZnO　nanorods　from　rapid　degradation　and　ensure　the　sustained　release　of　Zn2+　ions　as　well.　Furthermore,　the　designed　heterostructural　nanorods　not　only　induce　the　osteogenic　performances　of　MC3T3-E1　cells　but　also　exhibit　excellent　antibacterial　ability　against　S.　aureus　and　E.　coli　bacteria　via　physical　penetration.　In　vivo　studies　also　reveal　that　hybrid　Ti-ZnO@CaP5　can　not　only　eradicates　bacteria　in　contact,　but　also　provides　sufficient　biocompatibility　without　causing　excessive　inflammation　response.　Our　study　provides　insights　into　the　design　of　multifunctional　biomaterials　for　bone　implants.　Statement　of　significance:　•　A　lattice-damage-free　method　is　adopted　to　modify　the　ZnO　nanorods　with　thin　calcium　phosphate　(CaP)　shells.　•　The　dynamic　process　of　Ca　and　P　diffusion　into　the　ZnO　lattice　is　analyzed　by　experimental　verification　and　theoretical　calculation.　•　The　degradation　rate　of　ZnO　nanorods　is　significantly　decreased　after　CaP　deposition.　•　The　ZnO　nanorods　after　CaP　deposition　can　not　only　sterilize　bacteria　in　contact　via　physical　penetration,　but　also　provide　sufficient　biocompatibility　and　osteogenic　capability　without　causing　excessive　inflammation　response.　©　2023　The　Author(s)