A web of streamers: biofilm formation in a porous microfluidic device

Abstract

Using a microfabricated porous media mimic platform, we investigated how fluid flow influences the formation of filamentous structures, known as streamers, between porous media structures. We demonstrate how hydrodynamics govern the formation, morphology and the distribution of these biofilm streamers in the device. Our work establishes that, under favorable hydrodynamic conditions, streamers can often act as precursors to mature microbial structures found in complex geometries, such as those involved in porous media.