Capture and release of cancer cells: a thermoresponsive nanostructured surface is designed to reversibly capture and release cancer cells, wherein hydrophobic interaction helps the realization of target capture/release of cancer cells. The unique nature of the designed platform is based on the synergistic effect of hydrophobic interactions between the smart surface and the hydrophobic anchor (i.e., biotin-BSA), and topographic interactions between the nanostructured substrates and cancer cells.