Microbial biofilms as a platform for diverse biocatalytic applications

Microbial biofilms have gained significant traction in commercial wastewater treatment due to their inherent resilience, well-organized structure, and potential for collaborative metabolic processes. As our understanding of their physiology deepens, these living catalysts are finding exciting applications beyond wastewater treatment, including the production of bulk and fine chemicals, bioelectricity generation, and enzyme immobilization. While the biological applications of biofilms in different biocatalytic systems have been extensively summarized, the applications of artificially engineered biofilms were rarely discussed. This review aims to bridge this gap by highlighting the untapped potential of engineered microbial biofilms in diverse biocatalytic applications, with a focus on strategies for biofilms engineering. Strategies for engineering biofilm-based systems will be explored, including genetic modification, synthetic biology approaches, and targeted manipulation of biofilm formation processes. Finally, the review will address key challenges and future directions in developing robust biofilm-based biocatalytic platforms for large-scale production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels.