Bacterial biofilms are complex surface attached communities of bacteria held together by self-produced polymer matrixs mainly composed of polysaccharides, secreted proteins, and extracellular DNAs. Bacterial biofilm formation is a complex process and can be described in five main phases: (i) reversible attachment phase, where bacteria non-specifically attach to surfaces; (ii) irreversible attachment phase, which involves interaction between bacterial cells and a surface using bacterial adhesins such as fimbriae and lipopolysaccharide (LPS); (iii) production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by the resident bacterial cells; (iv) biofilm maturation phase, in which bacterial cells synthesize and release signaling molecules to sense the presence of each other, conducing to the formation of microcolony and maturation of biofilms; and (v) dispersal/detachment phase, where the bacterial cells depart biofilms and comeback to independent planktonic lifestyle. Biofilm formation is detrimental in healthcare, drinking water distribution systems, food, and marine industries, etc. As a result, current studies have been focused toward control and prevention of biofilms. In an effort to get rid of harmful biofilms, various techniques and approaches have been employed that interfere with bacterial attachment, bacterial communication systems (quorum sensing, QS), and biofilm matrixs. Biofilms, however, also offer beneficial roles in a variety of fields including applications in plant protection, bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and corrosion inhibition amongst others. Development of beneficial biofilms can be promoted through manipulation of adhesion surfaces, QS and environmental conditions. This review describes the events involved in bacterial biofilm formation, lists the negative and positive aspects associated with bacterial biofilms, elaborates the main strategies currently used to regulate establishment of harmful bacterial biofilms as well as certain strategies employed to encourage formation of beneficial bacterial biofilms, and highlights the future perspectives of bacterial biofilms.

Cellulose-based aerogels show great potential as absorbents for oil and chemical spill cleanup due to their low density and excellent absorption capacity. However, the hydrophility and inferior mechanical properties have often limited their practical applications. In this study, highperformance biomass-based aerogels were prepared by freeze-casting aqueous suspensions of polyvinyl alcohol and cellulose nanofibrils in the presence of hydrolyzed methyltrimethoxysilane sol. Successful silylation on the substrate surface was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal stability, and water contact angle measurements. Freeze-casting successfully assembled a highly aligned interconnected porous structure, resulting in the prepared aerogels with high modulus and strength in the aligned direction (along the freezing direction) and outstanding compression flexibility in the perpendicular direction (transverse to the freezing direction). The ultralow density (10.2 kg/m 3 ), high hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 140°), and good compressive recovery (84% recovery of its original thickness after 100th compression tests) allow the aerogel to absorb oils and organic solvents 45−99 times higher than its own weight. Meanwhile, good reusability was also observed with an absorption capacity greater than 84% after 35 absorption−squeezing cycles. The novel aerogels prepared in this study are expected to have great potential for application in treating oil and chemical spills.

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