  Magneto-optical imaging studies in a single crystal of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8
partially patterned with a hexagonal array of pinning centers (blind holes)
reveals local features in the patterned region which are distinct compared to
the pristine unpatterned regions in the sample. The patterned area exhibits a
strongly diamagnetic local magnetization response and is characterized by a
local penetration field enhanced by a factor of three. We show that strong
shielding currents around the periphery of the nanopatterned region create a
barrier which prevents vortex entry into the patterned region thus sustaining
an effectively flux-free state upto the enhanced penetration field.
