Nanomaterials with nanopatterned surface are emerging as promising biomaterials for probing and manipulating cells. In recent years, numerous experimental explorations of cell captured on nanopatterned surfaces have been developed. However, the effects of topographies of nanopatterned surfaces on the ability to capture cells are not yet well understood. Here, we explain the effects of topographies on cell capture by establishing a thermodynamic model. Our theoretical results reveal that underlying physical mechanism of cell captured on topographical surfaces which clarifies the ability of cell capture is determined by the comparison of adhesion energy and deformation energy of cell membrane. According to the calculated results, the phase diagrams of the ability to capture cells on nanostructures (e.g., nanoparticles and nanowires) have been constructed, which can clarify the interrelated effects between the ability to capture cells and surfaced topographies of nanostructures. From the phase, we can predict the ability to capture cells on different topographical surfaces. Meanwhile, the predictive power of the theoretical model is confirmed by our experiments. On the other hand, the predictive results of theoretical model are in good agreement with cases from the studies.