{"id":163404,"date":"2025-05-23T07:37:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T05:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=163404"},"modified":"2025-05-20T15:08:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:08:43","slug":"natures-fiber-composite-researchers-develop-living-material-from-fungi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/natures-fiber-composite-researchers-develop-living-material-from-fungi\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature’s fiber composite: Researchers develop living material from fungi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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The thin mycelial film is almost transparent and has good tensile strength. It could be used as a living bioplastic. \u00a9 Empa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Fungi are considered a promising source of biodegradable materials. Empa researchers have developed a new material based on a fungal mycelium and its own extracellular matrix. This gives the biomaterial particularly advantageous properties.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainably produced, biodegradable materials are an important focus of modern materials science. However, when working natural materials such as cellulose, lignin or chitin, researchers face a trade-off. Although these substances are biodegradable in their pure form, they are often not ideal when it comes to performance. Chemical processing steps can be used to make them stronger, more resistant or more supple \u2013 but in doing so, their sustainability is often compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empa researchers from the Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory have now developed a bio-based material that cleverly avoids this compromise. Not only is it completely biodegradable, it is also tear-resistant and has versatile functional properties. All this with minimal processing steps and without chemicals \u2013 you can even eat it. Its secret: It’s alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optimized by nature<\/h3>\n\n\n
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In nature, the split-gill mushroom grows on dead wood and forms fruiting bodies that are considered edible mushrooms in many parts of the world. \u00a9 Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

As the basis for their novel material, the researchers used the mycelium of the split-gill mushroom, a widespread edible fungus that grows on dead wood. Mycelia are root-like filamentous fungal structures that are already being actively researched as potential sources of materials. Normally, the mycelial fibers \u2013 known as hyphae \u2013 are cleaned and, if necessary, chemically processed, which brings about the above-mentioned trade-off between performance and sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Empa researchers chose a different approach. Instead of treating the mycelium, they use it as a whole. As it grows, the fungus not only forms hyphae, but also a so-called extracellular matrix: a network of various fiber-like macromolecules, proteins and other biological substances that the living cells secrete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe fungus uses this extracellular matrix to give itself structure and other functional properties. Why shouldn’t we do the same?\u201d explains Empa researcher Ashutosh Sinha<\/strong>. \u201cNature has already developed an optimized system,\u201d adds Gustav Nystr\u00f6m<\/strong>, head of the Cellulose and Wood Materials lab.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With a bit of additional optimization, the researchers gave nature a helping hand. From the enormous genetic diversity of the split-gill, they selected a strain that produces particularly high levels of two specific macromolecules: the long-chain polysaccharide schizophyllan and the soap-like protein hydrophobin. Due to their structure, hydrophobins collect at interfaces between polar and apolar liquids, for example water and oil. Schizophyllan is a nanofiber: less than a nanometer thick, but more than a thousand times as long. Together, these two biomolecules give the living mycelium material properties that make it suitable for a wide range of applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A living emulsifier<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Thanks to the auxiliary molecules in their extracellular matrix, the mycelial fibers are good natural emulsifiers \u2013 they are even safe to eat. \u00a9 Empa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The researchers demonstrated the versatility of their material in the laboratory. In their study, which was published recently in the journal Advanced Materials<\/em><\/a>, they showcased two possible applications for the living material: a plastic-like film and an emulsion. Emulsions are mixtures of two or more liquids that normally do not mix. All you have to do to see an example is open the fridge: Milk, salad dressing or mayonnaise are all emulsions. And various cosmetics, paints and varnishes also take the form of emulsions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One challenge is to stabilize such mixtures so that they do not separate into the individual liquids over time. This is where the living mycelium shows its strengths: Both the schizophyllan fibers and the hydrophobins act as emulsifiers. And the fungus keeps releasing more of these molecules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis is probably the only type of emulsion that becomes more stable over time,\u201d says Sinha<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Both the fungal filaments themselves and their extracellular molecules are completely non-toxic, biologically compatible and edible \u2013 the split-gill mushroom is routinely eaten in many parts of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIts use as an emulsifier in the cosmetics and food industry is therefore particularly interesting,\u201d says Nystr\u00f6m<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

From compost bags to batteries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The fungal culture of the split-gill mushroom on a culture medium. Samples were taken from the Petri dish on the right. \u00a9 Empa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The living fungal network is also suitable for classic material applications. In a second experiment, the researchers manufactured the mycelium into thin films. The extracellular matrix with its long schizophyllan fibers gives the material very good tensile strength, which can be further enhanced by targeted alignment of the fungal and polysaccharide fibers within it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe combine the proven methods for processing fiber-based materials with the emerging field of living materials,\u201d explains Nystr\u00f6m. Sinha<\/strong> adds: \u201cOur mycelium is a living fiber composite, so to speak.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The researchers can control the fungal material’s properties by changing the conditions under which the fungus grows. It would also be conceivable to use other fungal strains or species that produce other functional macromolecules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with the living material also presents certain challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBiodegradable materials always react to their environment,\u201d says Nystr\u00f6m<\/strong>. \u201cWe want to find applications where this interaction is not a hindrance but maybe even an advantage.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

However, its biodegradability is only part of the story for the mycelium. It is also a biodegrader: The split-gill mushrooms can actively decompose wood and other plant materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sinha<\/strong> sees another potential application here: \u201cInstead of compostable plastic bags, it could be used to make bags that compost the organic waste themselves,\u201d says the researcher<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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\"The
The fungal film reacts reversibly to moisture and could be used for bio-based humidity sensors. \u00a9 Empa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

There are also promising applications for the mycelium in the field of sustainable electronics. For example, the fungal material shows a reversible reaction to moisture and could be used to produce biodegradable moisture sensors. Another application that Nystr\u00f6m’s team is currently working on combines the living material with two other research projects from the Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory: the\u00a0fungal biobattery<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0paper battery<\/a>. \u201cWe want to produce a compact, biodegradable battery whose electrodes consist of a living ‘fungal paper’,\u201d says Sinha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Original publication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A Sinha, LG Greca, N Kummer, C Wobill, C Reyes, P Fischer, S Campioni, G Nystr\u00f6m: Living Fiber Dispersions from Mycelium as a New Sustainable Platform for Advanced Materials; Advanced Materials (2025)<\/em>;\u00a0doi: 10.1002\/adma.202418464<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fungi are considered a promising source of biodegradable materials. Empa researchers have developed a new material based on a fungal mycelium and its own extracellular matrix. This gives the biomaterial particularly advantageous properties. Sustainably produced, biodegradable materials are an important focus of modern materials science. However, when working natural materials such as cellulose, lignin or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":163439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","nova_meta_subtitle":"Empa-researchers have developed a bio- and fungal mycelium-based material, which not only is completely biodegradable, it is also tear-resistant and has versatile functional properties","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[14279,11270,5838,10416,19092,13636,7105],"supplier":[506],"class_list":["post-163404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-biocomposite","tag-biodegradability","tag-bioeconomy","tag-circulareconomy","tag-fungalmycelium","tag-fungi","tag-packaging","supplier-eidgenoessische-materialpruefungs-und-forschungsanstalt-empa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163404\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163404"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=163404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}