biofilm

American  

[bahy-oh-film] / ˈbaɪ oʊˌfɪlm /

noun

• biofilms
  plural

1. Biology. a film or thin coating on solid surfaces, consisting of microorganisms and the indissoluble, viscous fluid they secrete.

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biofilm Scientific  

/ bī′ō-fĭlm′ /

1. A complex structure adhering to surfaces that are regularly in contact with water, consisting of colonies of bacteria and usually other microorganisms such as yeasts, fungi, and protozoa that secrete a mucilaginous protective coating in which they are encased. Biofilms can form on solid or liquid surfaces as well as on soft tissue in living organisms, and are typically resistant to conventional methods of disinfection. Dental plaque, the slimy coating that fouls pipes and tanks, and algal mats on bodies of water are examples of biofilms. While biofilms are generally pathogenic in the body, causing such diseases as cystic fibrosis and otitis media, they can be used beneficially in treating sewage, industrial waste, and contaminated soil.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antibiofilm
  adjective
• biofilm-like
  adjective
• biofilmed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• biofilms
  plural

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

biofilm biofilms

A big challenge is dental plaque, a protective structure known as a biofilm that helps bacteria adhere to teeth and makes them more resistant to removal by saliva, mouth rinses and some antimicrobial agents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

The study found that exposure to nanoplastics increased the physical strength of the biofilm and made it more resistant to disinfectants.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

This dye allowed them to assess acidity in different areas of the biofilm.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2026

The study is the first to utilize microfluidic chambers to monitor pathogen growth and biofilm formation under conditions mimicking the plant's vascular system, said Siri.

From Science Daily ● May 1, 2024

Current solutions for dealing with biofilm rely on chemical agents like biocidal coatings to kill the organisms or nonstick coatings to prevent biofilms from attaching in the first place.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 2, 2024

Bacteria and other microorganisms can colonize its surfaces, forming communities known as biofilms.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

The procedures remove plaque below the gumline and disrupt bacterial biofilms that contribute to gum inflammation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

"The latest theory is related to some of the chemistry that goes into ensuring that the wastewater doesn't develop any biofilms," or microorganisms, he said.

From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026

In this scenario, life's earliest steps took place inside surface-attached gel matrices, which are sticky, semi-solid materials similar in some ways to modern microbial biofilms.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 11, 2026

They form dense, plaque-like structures known as "dental biofilms" that cling to the surface of teeth.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2026

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