Biomaterials – Page 3

Mycelium-Based Composites: Surveying Their Acceptance by Professional Architects

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Researchers surveyed 50 professional architects and interior designers about their views on building materials made from mycelium (the root network of fungi). While most weren’t familiar with these materials, 90% found them visually appealing after seeing examples. Interestingly, architects were more willing to use mycelium in projects for clients than in their own homes, suggesting some personal concerns about the material. Thermally processed mycelium was preferred over its natural appearance.

Fungal and Microalgal Chitin: Structural Differences, Functional Properties, and Biomedical Applications

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Chitin is a natural fiber found in mushrooms, algae, and shellfish that has many medical and industrial uses. Traditional chitin from shellfish shells has environmental and contamination problems, so scientists are studying chitin from mushrooms and algae as cleaner alternatives. These sources produce chitin with different structures that can be better for certain medical applications, and can be extracted using environmentally friendly methods.

Fungal and Microalgal Chitin: Structural Differences, Functional Properties, and Biomedical Applications

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Chitin is a natural fiber found in mushroom cell walls and algae that can be extracted and used for medical applications like wound healing and drug delivery. Traditional chitin from shellfish shells contains heavy metals and requires harsh chemicals to extract, but chitin from mushrooms and algae is cleaner, more sustainable, and can be grown year-round. Scientists have developed environmentally friendly extraction methods using special solvents and enzymes that preserve the chitin’s useful properties. This makes fungal and algal chitin promising alternatives for creating biomedical materials and packaging.

Assessing the Conformity of Mycelium Biocomposites for Ecological Insulation Solutions

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Researchers developed insulation materials made from mushroom mycelium combined with agricultural and industrial waste products. These eco-friendly composites perform comparably to conventional synthetic insulation in terms of thermal properties and actually outperform them in fire safety. The materials are fully biodegradable and require fewer fossil fuels to produce, making them an attractive sustainable alternative for building construction.

3D printed gyroid scaffolds enabling strong and thermally insulating mycelium-bound composites for greener infrastructures

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Scientists developed a new eco-friendly building material by growing mushroom mycelium on specially designed 3D-printed scaffolds made from wood and plant-based plastic. These mycelium bricks are stronger, better insulators, and more fire-resistant than traditional bricks or foam insulation, while being completely biodegradable. This breakthrough could help reduce the construction industry’s massive carbon footprint and provide a sustainable alternative to harmful conventional building materials.

Quantification of fungal biomass in mycelium composites made from diverse biogenic side streams

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Scientists have developed a new method to measure how much fungal material is actually in mushroom-based composites, which are sustainable alternatives to plastics. By extracting and analyzing fungal DNA, they found that different mushroom species require different amounts of fungal growth to create stable materials, and the type of waste material used also matters significantly. This research helps manufacturers optimize production of these eco-friendly composites while also showing that various agricultural and industrial waste streams can be successfully converted into useful materials.

Anisotropic Growth of Filamentous Fungi in Wood Hydrogel Composites Increases Mechanical Properties

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Researchers created strong, eco-friendly composite materials by growing fungi inside delignified wood. The fungi naturally aligned with the wood fiber structure, which significantly strengthened the resulting material. By adjusting the type of wood, fungal species, and nutrient content, scientists could fine-tune the material properties. These sustainable composites show promise for use in building materials and packaging applications.

Strongest untreated mycelium materials produced by Schizophyllum commune dikaryons

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Scientists have developed a new method to produce exceptionally strong mushroom-based materials by using dikaryotic strains of Schizophyllum commune instead of monokaryotic strains. These new materials achieved record-breaking strength of 47 MPa, making them stronger than existing mycelium materials while maintaining flexibility. The enhanced strength comes from differences in cell wall composition and lower expression of a specific gene that normally affects material density. This breakthrough could lead to improved fungal-based alternatives for leather and textiles.

3D printed gyroid scaffolds enabling strong and thermally insulating mycelium-bound composites for greener infrastructures

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Scientists developed a new eco-friendly building material made from mushroom mycelium grown on 3D-printed scaffolds. This material is as strong as traditional bricks, provides excellent insulation like foam, resists fire better than conventional materials, and is completely compostable. The innovation could help reduce carbon emissions from construction by replacing harmful petroleum-based and energy-intensive traditional building materials.

Harmonizing Nature, Education, Engineering and Creativity: An Interdisciplinary Educational Exploration of Engineered Living Materials, Artistry and Sustainability Using Collaborative Mycelium Brick Construction

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Middle-school students created artistic structures from mycelium (mushroom) materials, learning science, engineering, and art simultaneously. Students designed clay forms, cast them in plaster, filled the molds with mycelium mixture, and watched the living material grow into interconnected sculptures. This hands-on project taught students about sustainable materials, three-dimensional thinking, and teamwork while revealing significant gaps in their understanding of ecology and environmental concepts.

Research Topic: Biomaterials