Multi-Organism Composites: Combined Growth Potential of Mycelium and Bacterial Cellulose

Author: mycolabadmin
5/3/2022
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Summary

Scientists combined two biological materials—mycelium (fungal roots) and bacterial cellulose—to create new sustainable composites. Through a series of experiments, they found these organisms could grow together successfully when using knitted fabric as a scaffold. The main challenge was preventing mold contamination when both organisms were alive, but the resulting materials showed strong attachment and diverse functional possibilities. This research could lead to new eco-friendly materials for architecture and design.

Background

The demand for sustainable, renewable biomaterials has led to increased research into individual organisms like mycelium and bacterial cellulose. However, understanding how these biomaterials can be combined as composites and hybrids to achieve enhanced functionality remains underexplored. This research investigates the compatibility of mycelium and bacterial cellulose for developing large-scale biohybrid structures.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the compatibility of mycelium and bacterial cellulose as two biomaterials with different qualities for the development of the BioKnit prototype. The research addresses three key questions: how two organisms grow together and influence each other, the potential of knitted scaffolds for assembling multiple living materials through growth, and how contamination challenges can be addressed.

Results

All four experiments demonstrated that reliable growth of a secondary organism was achievable in the presence of a primary organism. BC thickness ranged from 2-13mm depending on conditions, with stronger attachment observed when mycelium was living or when knitted scaffolds were used. Contamination in the form of mold occurred in experiments three and four when both organisms were alive, and increased gas production was observed in the presence of living mycelium.

Conclusion

Mycelium and bacterial cellulose can grow effectively together to create composites with diverse functions. The knitted scaffold proved valuable in bringing organisms together while supporting both growth behaviors. Further research on fabrication settings, environmental controls for ventilation and humidity, and attachment strategies is needed to optimize multi-organism composite development for architectural applications.

Published in:Biomimetics (Basel),
Study Type:Experimental Study,
Source: 10.3390/biomimetics7020055, PMID: 35645182