Formation of Biofilm and Degradation Processes of Resilient and Green Materials: A Field Study and Novel Perspectives

The surface material’s nature can influence the formation of biofilms. Environmentally friendly materials such as linoleum, derived from organic sources, have emerged to address the need to balance ecological requirements with practical considerations, particularly in sectors where hygiene is of critical importance, such as sports and healthcare. Nevertheless, even with appropriate utilization, these materials can deteriorate over time, resulting in the proliferation of harmful microbes. Metagenomic analyses were conducted to identify the microbiota responsible for the chromatic variation (n = 4) observed on a linoleum sample immersed in water. Subsequently, the data were correlated with spectroscopic analyses via microNIR. The preliminary investigations did not establish the role of abiotic components in the processes of surface discoloration. The bacterial microbiota formed on the surfaces was characterized, indicating a potential biotic role in the degradation of linoleum. Data exploration obtained from the spectroscopic acquisitions through principal component analysis produced a clustering of the data matrix into four subgroups, corresponding to the four chromatic variations. The preliminary data appear to indicate the degradation mechanisms to which materials of organic origin are subject. Furthermore, they suggest that the personalized functionalization of such materials could support effective replacement from a One Health perspective of traditional materials.