Nanorough titanium surfaces reduce adhesion of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus via nano adhesion points.

•Nanorough titanium surfaces were produced with physical vapor deposition.•Microbial adhesion was reduced up to 55.6% on the nanorough titanium.•Direct insight into the microbe-titanium- interface is given using FIB-SEM.•Initial microbial adhesion on nanorough surfaces is controlled via nano adhesion points.•Late microbial adhesion on nanorough surfaces is controlled by the attachment area.