Biofilms are formed by microorganisms that collectively organise at interfaces. They are self-assembling complex fluids consisting of rigid microbial cells embedded in a self-secreted soft biopolymeric extracellular matrix and possess an intricate porous network that holds nearly 90% by weight of water. Biofilms have been commonly studied for their ability to spread infection and corrode industrial equipment.
Biomaterials produced by microorganisms such as bacterial cellulose, and more recently fungal mycelium-based biocomposites, typically require downstream processing to improve their mechanical strength.
Research questions:
Can non-pathogenic biofilms find applications as useful biomaterials?
Can biofilms be grown as biocomposites, thereby circumventing the need for downstream processing
