  We study the penetration field $H_{\rm P}$ for vortex nanocrystals nucleated
in micron-sized samples with edges aligned along the nodal and anti-nodal
directions of the d-wave superconducting parameter of Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8
- \delta}$. Here we present evidence that the $H_{\rm P}$ for nanocrystals
nucleated in samples with edges parallel to the nodal direction is larger than
for the antinodal case, $\sim 72$\,\% at low temperatures. This finding
supports the theoretical proposal that surface Andreev bound states appearing
in a sample with edges parallel to the nodal direction would produce an
anomalous Meissner current that increases the Bean-Livingston barrier for
vortex penetration.This has been detected thanks to the nucleation of vortex
nanocrystals with a significant surface-to-volume ratio.
