Adhesion of nano-sized particles to the surface of bacteria: Mechanistic study with the extended DLVO theory

► Release of nanoparticles into the environment would be fated by their increasing usage. ► Adhesion of nano-sized particles to microbes was investigated. ► Nano-sized polymeric particles with various surface properties were tested. ► Adhesion of nanoparticles to microbes was governed by the physicochemical properties.