Table:
Process	Functional Relevance of Exopolysaccharides to Biofilms
Adhesion	Exopolysaccharides makes provision for the initial steps in the colonization of surfaces (abiotic and biotic) and long-term attachment of biofilms.
Bacterial cell aggregation	The bridging between cells is enabled by exopolysaccharides, thus temporarily immobilizing bacterial population thus, the subsequent development of high cell densities and cell–cell recognition.
Water retention	Hydrophilic exopolysaccharides have high water retention ability thus maintaining a hydrated microenvironment around biofilm and this leading to the survival of desiccation in water-deficient environments.
Cohesion of biofilms	Neutral and charged exopolysaccharides forms a hydrated polymer network (the biofilm matrix), mediating the mechanical stability of biofilms (often in conjunction with multivalent cations), determining biofilm architecture, as well as allowing cell-cell communication.
Nutrient source	Exopolysaccharides serves as source of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus containing compounds for utilization by the biofilm community.
Protective barrier	Exopolysaccharides confers resistance to non specific and specific host defences during infection, confers tolerance to various antimicrobial agents, protects cyanobacterial nitrogenase from the harmful effects of oxygen and offers protection against some phagocytic protozoa.
Sorption of organic Compounds and inorganic ions	Charged and hydrophobic exopolysaccharides mediates the accumulation of nutrients from the environment, sorption of xenobiotics and recalcitrant materials. They promote polysaccharide gel formation resulting in ion exchange, mineral formation and the accumulation of toxic metal ions (thus collectively contributing to environmental detoxification).
Binding of enzymes	Non glycolytic extracellular enzyme interaction with exopolysaccharides leads to retention stabilization and accumulation.
Export of cell components	Lipopolysaccharides (isoprenoid glycosyl carrier lipids), which lipo-glyco conjugate, mediates the releases cellular material as a result of metabolic turnover.
Sink for excess energy	Exopolysaccharides stores excess carbon under unbalanced carbon to nitrogen ratios.

Render the figure in Markdown format.

| Process | Functional Relevance of Exopolysaccharides to Biofilms | 
 | --- | --- | 
 | Adhesion | Exopolysaccharides makes provision for the initial steps in the colonization of surfaces (abiotic and biotic) and long-term attachment of biofilms. | 
 | Bacterial cell aggregation | The bridging between cells is enabled by exopolysaccharides, thus temporarily immobilizing bacterial population thus, the subsequent development of high cell densities and cell–cell recognition. | 
 | Water retention | Hydrophilic exopolysaccharides have high water retention ability thus maintaining a hydrated microenvironment around biofilm and this leading to the survival of desiccation in water-deficient environments. | 
 | Cohesion of biofilms | Neutral and charged exopolysaccharides forms a hydrated polymer network (the biofilm matrix), mediating the mechanical stability of biofilms (often in conjunction with multivalent cations), determining biofilm architecture, as well as allowing cell-cell communication. | 
 | Nutrient source | Exopolysaccharides serves as source of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus containing compounds for utilization by the biofilm community. | 
 | Protective barrier | Exopolysaccharides confers resistance to non specific and specific host defences during infection, confers tolerance to various antimicrobial agents, protects cyanobacterial nitrogenase from the harmful effects of oxygen and offers protection against some phagocytic protozoa. | 
 | Sorption of organic Compounds and inorganic ions | Charged and hydrophobic exopolysaccharides mediates the accumulation of nutrients from the environment, sorption of xenobiotics and recalcitrant materials. They promote polysaccharide gel formation resulting in ion exchange, mineral formation and the accumulation of toxic metal ions (thus collectively contributing to environmental detoxification). | 
 | Binding of enzymes | Non glycolytic extracellular enzyme interaction with exopolysaccharides leads to retention stabilization and accumulation. | 
 | Export of cell components | Lipopolysaccharides (isoprenoid glycosyl carrier lipids), which lipo-glyco conjugate, mediates the releases cellular material as a result of metabolic turnover. | 
 | Sink for excess energy | Exopolysaccharides stores excess carbon under unbalanced carbon to nitrogen ratios. |