Micro- and nano-technologies provide new tools to study and control cell adhesion. These technologies are well suited to reconstitute the cell's natural environment and mimic its biochemical, morphological and mechanical peculiarities. 'Smart' material surfaces and coatings, which allow controlling the binding and release of specific macromolecules and/or cells, are being developed at a high pace. Moreover, the application of geometrical constraints at the micro-or nano-scale reveals some of the physico-chemical principles underlying molecular and cellular organization. These technologies, combined with the growing knowledge in molecular biology and the spatial and temporal resolutions given by the various microscopy techniques, are going to boost our understanding of cell physiology. The availability of well-defined multicellular assemblies opens new ways to test and analyze cells, either in a cluster, or in assemblies mimicking tissue organization. These techniques help bridging the gap between molecular biology and tissue or organism physiology. First, we list the main chemical and physical parameters in the cell micro-environment that influence its survival, proliferation, differentiation or migration. Then we review some examples where micro-and nano-technologies are used to control cell spreading and adhesion in different ways: (1) via the distance between adhesive molecules, (2) via the geometry of adhesive zones, (3) via surfaces with switchable adhesiveness, or (4) via three-dimensional coatings used as reservoir of active molecules. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010