Time-dependent phenotypic response of a model osteoblast cell line (hFOB 1.19, ATCC, CRL-11372) to substrata with varying surface chemistry and topography is reviewed within the context of extant cell-adhesion theory. Cell-attachment and proliferation kinetics are compared using morphology as a leading indicator of cell phenotype. Expression of (α 2 , α 3 , α 4 , α 5 , α v , β 1 and β 3 ) integrins, vinculin, as well as secretion of osteopontin and type I collagen supplement this visual assessment of hFOB growth. It is concluded that significant cell-adhesion events -contact, attachment, spreading, and proliferation -are similar on all surfaces, independent of substratum surface chemistry/energy. However, this sequence of events is significantly delayed and attenuated on hydrophobic (poorly water-wettable) surfaces exhibiting characteristically low-attachment efficiency and long induction periods before cells engage in an exponential-growth phase. Results suggest that a 'time-cell-substratum compatibility-superposition-principle' is at work wherein similar bioadhesive outcomes can be ultimately achieved on all surface types with varying hydrophilicity, but the time required to arrive at this outcome increases with decreasing cellsubstratum compatibility. Genomic and proteomic tools offer unprecedented opportunity to directly measure changes in the cellular machinery that lead to observed cell responses to different materials. But for the purpose of measuring structure-property relationships that can guide biomaterial development, genomic/proteomic tools should be applied early in the adhesion/spreading process before cells have an opportunity to significantly remodel the cell-substratum interface, effectively erasing cause-and-effect relationships between cell cell-substratum compatibility and substratum properties.Impact Statement-This review quantifies relationships among cell phenotype, substratum surface chemistry/energy, topography, and cell-substratum contact time for the model osteoblast cell