FESEM images of E. coli (A, C, and E) and S. epi (B, D, and F) exposed to PBS (A and B), DMA-m microgels (C and D) and DMA-METAC-HEM-4h microgels (E and F). The initial concentration of bacteria was 107 CFU/ml. The inset images in E and F show the magnified images of the distorted bacterial cell membrane after exposure to DMA-METAC-HEM-4h microgels.