MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Innovative chitin-glucan based material obtained from mycelium of wood decay fungal strains

Summary

Researchers have developed a new sustainable leather-like material from fungal mycelium that could replace traditional animal leather and synthetic alternatives. By growing specific wood decay fungi in controlled fermentation systems and extracting their chitin and glucan content, they created flexible sheets with mechanical properties similar to real leather. The materials are biodegradable, require no animal farming, and avoid toxic tanning processes, making them a promising eco-friendly solution for fashion and furniture industries.

Background

Fungi represent an alternative source to animal-based chitin for sustainable material production. In fungi, chitin fibrils are interconnected with glucans creating unique matrices. This study aimed to extract chitin and glucans from wood decay fungal mycelium to develop flexible materials as alternatives to animal and synthetic leather.

Objective

To extract chitin and glucans from five wood decay fungal strains with different cell wall chemical compositions and evaluate correlations between chitin content and mechanical properties of resulting materials. The goal was to develop viable leather-like alternatives for fashion and furniture applications.

Results

Abortiporus biennis, Fomitopsis iberica, and Stereum hirsutum strains produced materials with adequate flexibility. Tensile strength ranged from 1.3 to 8.48 MPa, elongation at break from 19.54 to 52.96%, and Young’s modulus from 16.21 to 87.47 MPa. Bioreactor cultivation produced more elastomeric materials with higher α-glucan content, while flask cultivation yielded higher tensile strength.

Conclusion

Fungal-derived chitin-glucan materials demonstrate mechanical properties comparable to animal leather and show promise as sustainable alternatives. The presence of α-glucans combined with chitin is essential for elastomeric properties. Fungal materials represent valid natural alternatives to both animal and synthetic leather with controllable mechanical characteristics and lower environmental impact.
  • Published in:Heliyon,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28709, PMID: 38590850
Scroll to Top