Bacteria-nanoparticle interactions and their environmental implications

Part of the responsible use of nanotechnology will be to better delineate the potential impact of nanomaterials released into the environment. A key aspect of understanding this impact is to examine the interaction between nanomaterials and microorganisms, which are not only highly abundant in nature but critical for global environmental processes. In this Highlight, current knowledge about the interaction between bacteria and industrially-relevant nanoparticles is reviewed. Important areas for further study are discussed.