Biofilms Control: Biomedical and Industrial Environments

BIOFILM CONTROL gives a concise picture of advancements in the field and about newer approaches. Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and are often encountered in a spectrum of natural environments either on natural or man-made surfaces in aquatic systems. Their occurrence is wide ranging from rocks, ship hulls, power plant cooling water systems, heat processing industries. In biomedical and clinical settings biofilms are known to infest the vital organs of human body and have been a source of contamination on implants and prosthesis and affects oral health. Biofilm formation is an integral component of the microbial life cycle and current investigations have revealed that biofilm communities are very complex, dynamic systems which are heterogenous and have evolved with respect to the highly specialized environment. Biofilm mode of life offers protection to its members from hostile environmental conditions and hence is known to be tougher than their planktonic counterparts. KEY FEATURES: * Various facets related to medical and industrial biofilms and their control has been presented. * Concepts like formation, interaction, community structure, response to biocides, therapeutic options, coatings and nano-composites for prevention of biofilm formation have been discussed. * Merits and demerits of various emerging concepts and the use of novel strategies for biofilm control have been discussed in detail.