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Engineering Strategies for Fungal Cell Disruption in Biotechnological Applications

Summary

Fungi produce valuable products inside their cells like medicines, oils, and natural colors. However, fungal cell walls are very tough and hard to break open compared to bacteria or algae. Scientists have developed various methods to break open fungal cells, ranging from physical approaches like grinding with beads or using sound waves, to gentler chemical and enzymatic methods. The best method depends on the type of fungus, what product you want to extract, and how much you need to make.

Background

Fungal cells possess rigid and complex cell wall structures composed of chitin, β-glucans, and glycoproteins, making them significantly more challenging to disrupt than bacterial or algal cells. Efficient fungal cell disruption is critical for accessing high-value intracellular products such as lipids, proteins, pigments, and bioactive compounds used in pharmaceuticals, food production, and biotechnology.

Objective

This review comprehensively examines mechanical and non-mechanical methods for fungal cell disruption, analyzing their principles, engineering factors, and performance parameters. The goal is to provide researchers and bioprocess engineers with guidance for selecting and optimizing disruption strategies based on fungal species, target products, and scalability requirements.

Results

Mechanical methods like bead milling and high-pressure homogenization show high disruption efficiency for fungal cells with adjustable parameters for different species. Non-mechanical methods offer milder, more selective alternatives with varying efficacy depending on fungal morphology. Hybrid approaches combining enzymatic pretreatment with mechanical disruption enhance efficiency significantly.

Conclusion

The selection of optimal fungal cell disruption methods depends on balancing technical soundness, economic viability, and environmental responsibility. Emerging hybrid and sustainable alternatives aligned with circular bioeconomy goals show promise for advancing efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible fungal-based biomanufacturing.
  • Published in:Engineering in Life Sciences,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41341960, DOI: 10.1002/elsc.70061
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