The present study was motivated by the need for accurately-controlled and well-characterized novel biomaterial formulations for the study of cell-protein-material interactions. For this purpose, the current research has focused on the design, fabrication and characterization of model native oxide-coated silicon surfaces decorated with silica nanoparticles of select sizes, and has examined the adhesion of osteoblasts and fibroblasts on these nanoparticle-decorated surfaces. The results demonstrate the capability to deposit nanoparticles of ...