Fig. 7: Bacterial growth model as biofilm-like microcolonies inside the CPB.

At t = 0 h, bacteria were distributed randomly inside the pectinate bead and adhered to the walls formed by the 3D calcium-pectinate network. At t = 15 h, adherent bacteria were grown as microcolonies (biofilm-like) distributed randomly in the bead. At t = 24 h, a reorganization of microcolonies occurred with then merging of two microcolonies with each other associated with bacterial growth within the microcolonies. This led to a decrease in the number of microcolonies and an increase in their surface and their sphericity. At t = 48 h, the merging of several microcolonies continued to occur and the distribution of microcolonies became less random and more concentrated at the periphery of the bead.