Low fibronectin concentration overcompensates for reduced initial fibroblasts adhesion to a nanoscale topography: Single-cell force spectroscopy

► Single-cell force spectroscopy was used to analyze initial fibroblast adhesion. ► Adhesion strength to a bare grooved nanostructure was lower than to a planar substrate. ► At low FN concentrations, adhesion to the nanostructure outweighed that to the planar substrate. ► At high FN concentrations, adhesion strength was high on both surfaces showing wide variations. ► Cell body detachment and tether lifetimes were affected by surface topography.