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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Dec 7.
Published in final edited form as: Nanophotonics. 2017 Aug 1;6(5):853–879. doi: 10.1515/nanoph-2016-0189

Figure 3. Progression stages of growth of a bacterial biofilm.

Figure 3

Initially free-floating planktonic cells settle down onto a surface that can either be inanimate or living tissue. Next secretion of extracellular matrix allows the cells to grow in place. Finally, a mature biofilm is formed complete with water channels to allow oxygen and nutrients to penetrate.