Computational and Experimental Analysis of Biofilm Growth on a Structured Nutrient Geometry

Biofilms, surface attached microbial communities, grow in surfaces that vary greatly, yet most laboratory studies focus on agar plates. We compare the steady-state topographies of colonies growing on flat and ridged surfaces.I. Experimental agar topographies characterized by white-light interferometry are compared to a heuristic model for biofilm growth, in which colonies grow up to a maximum height from the nutrient source. The height of the colony represents a well-defined length scale, which overlaps with the growth surface topography. We characterize the biofilm topography through the correlation length and characteristic roughness and amplitudes, observing a significant decay as the colony develops and its height changes. By combining physical measurements and computational modeling, we explore how different relaxation processes such as surface tension and interface diffusion drive biofilm dynamics. By advancing our understanding of how biofilms adapt to and interact with physical barriers, this research aims to enhance strategies for managing biofilms in medical and environmental settings.