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3D Bioprinting of Food Grade Hydrogel Infused with Living Pleurotus ostreatus Mycelium in Non-Sterile Conditions

Summary

Researchers have developed a new method to 3D print living mushroom root networks (mycelium) using food-safe materials. This breakthrough allows for creating complex shapes and structures that could replace environmentally harmful materials like polystyrene foam. The process works even in non-sterile conditions, making it more practical for real-world applications. Impacts on everyday life: • Could lead to more sustainable packaging materials to replace styrofoam • Enables new ways to grow and produce mushroom-based foods • Provides eco-friendly building and insulation materials for construction • Creates opportunities for new biodegradable consumer products • Reduces reliance on petroleum-based plastics and foams

Background

Mycelium biocomposites created through template replication can serve as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional polystyrene foams, which require significant energy and carbon to manufacture. 3D bioprinting technologies have emerged as a method to produce high-value functional mycelium products with complex geometries that are difficult to achieve through traditional molding techniques.

Objective

To design and evaluate a versatile food-grade hydrogel formulation for 3D bioprinting Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium, and to develop a reproducible workflow for creating intricate living mycelium structures in non-sterile conditions.

Results

The study successfully demonstrated that the developed hydrogel formulation could be used to 3D bioprint intricate structures containing living P. ostreatus mycelium. The prints showed continued growth after printing, and the process was successful even in non-sterile conditions. The hydrogel could also be modified with additives to produce mycelium biocomposite objects.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate that 3D bioprinting using mycelium-based feedstocks is a promising biofabrication technique for producing engineered living materials, with potential applications in mushroom cultivation, food preparation, and construction of the built environment.
  • Published in:ACS Applied Bio Materials,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00048
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