The extracellular matrix provides cells with a support structure and an attachment site in actual substrate. Its biochemical and surface properties play an important role in and have significant impact on cell attachment, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and gene expression. Leveraging the hydrophilicity and neuroprotective of gastrodin, a gastrodin/polyurethane (PU) elastomer was developed utilizing in situ polymerization and salt-leaching methods. The results showed that gastrodin/PU film had a good flexibility and supporting strength, as well as hydrophilicity. Thus film possessed highly surface area, interconnected porous structure with a pore size (10 similar to 60 mu m) for cell attachment, and could provide surface cues to augment neurite extension. For PC12 cells cultured within the films, especially the 5gastrodin/PU group, presented a progressive increase with time, coupled with the upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell derived neurotrophic factor expression. This is the first report on the construction of a gastrodin/PU porous film, and the results reveal its promise as a scaffold material for neural tissue engineering.