Hydroxyapatite is a calcium phosphate-based mineral constitute found in bone and teeth. The production of nanostructured rods that mimics the mineralogical chemistry and structure of natural bone apatite has attracted considerable attention. Unfortunately, pure HAp is not suitable for direct clinical translation because of its brittleness, limited mechanical strength, aggregation, leaching, and poor surface properties. These limitations necessitate size reduction, surface modification, ion incorporation, to expand their scope in bone reconstruction. Herein. iron-reinforced nanohydroxyapatite nanorods were used as an inorganic com­ponent and catechol-modified gelatin methacryloyl was used as a surface modifier and functional agent. Our study concluded that Fe-doped nanorods are an intriguing choice for building bioactive interfaces to increase interaction between inorganic/organic matrix than other ion-doped nanorods due to the simplicity of metal-catechol network (MCN) surface engineering. Nanostructural, surface chemistries, thermal, physicochemical, cytocompatibility, and antioxidant potential of unmodified and tannin-modified nanorods has been detailed studies. The results support that metal-catechol networks on nanorods surfaces regulate interfacial interactions, nanorods cytocompatibility, antioxidant potential, and phase compatibility between organic and inorganic materials which is crucial for bone reconstruction.