MWCNTs were functionalized by acid treatment and adsorption of organic matter.
Bacterial toxicity of MWCNTs in suspensions was assayed with E. coli planktonic cultures.
MWCNT surface modifications significantly exerted impacts on the dispersivity of MWCNTs.
Inactivation of planktonic cells was both MWCNT functionalization- and medium nutrition-dependent.
Dispersity alone may not be a proper index to estimate CNT bacterial toxicity on suspended cells.