biofilmech

Biofilmech is an interdisciplinary field studying the mechanical behavior of biofilms—multispecies microbial communities embedded in extracellular polymeric substances—that adhere to surfaces and interfaces. It combines microbiology, biophysics, materials science, and mechanical engineering to understand how biofilms form, deform, detach, and withstand stresses.

Biofilm mechanics focus on properties such as viscoelasticity, yield stress, and fracture resistance. The extracellular matrix controls adhesion and cohesion, affecting how biofilms respond to shear, compressive load, and hydrodynamic forces. Architecture, hydration, and age influence mechanical behavior and detachment under flow.

Methods include rheometry to measure bulk viscoelasticity, atomic force microscopy and microrheology for local stiffness, and confocal microscopy coupled with force mapping. Microfluidic devices enable controlled shear experiments. Computational models — continuum viscoelastic models and agent-based simulations — help predict growth, deformation, and detachment.

Applications span medical devices and implants, dental plaque management, industrial pipelines, and food processing. Understanding biofilm mechanics informs the design of anti-fouling surfaces, strategies to remove biofilms mechanically or chemically, and the development of coatings that resist adhesion or promote controlled detachment.

Challenges include heterogeneity within biofilms, coupling chemistry with mechanics, translating laboratory measurements to real-world systems, and integrating multi-scale data. Ongoing work aims to link microscopic structure to macroscopic response and to guide material design and cleaning protocols.