Growth of biocompatible zinc oxide hedgehog-like structures on glass substrates using hydrothermal method at low temperature is demonstrated. The as-grown samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The optical absorption of the as-grown ZnO microstructures measured with photothermal deflection spectroscopy showed very low optical absorption and strong scattering making ZnO microrods an ideal diffuser in the visible and near IR regions. In addition, the effect of ZnO microstructures on the cultivation of osteosarcoma cells (SAOS-2) is presented. During the 48 h cultivation period, no toxic effect of ZnO as a chemical agent on SAOS-2 cells was observed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.