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Multi-organism composites: Combined growth potential of mycelium andbacterial cellulose

Lookup NU author(s): Aileen Hoenerloh, Dilan Ozkan, Dr Jane Scott

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

The demand for sustainable materials derived from renewable resources has led to significant research exploring the performance and functionality of biomaterials such as mycelium and bacterial cellulose. Whilst the growing conditions and performance of individual biomaterials are understood, to achieve additional new and enhanced functionality, an understanding of how biomaterials can be used together as composites and hybrids is required. This paper investigates the compatibility of mycelium and bacterial cellulose as two biomaterials with different qualities for the development of a large-scale biohybrid structure, the BioKnit prototype. Their compatibility was tested through preliminary design experiments and a material tinkering approach. The findings demonstrate that under optimal conditions mycelium and bacterial cellulose can grow in each other’s presence and create composites with an extensive array of functions. However, there is a need to develop further fabrication settings that help to maintain optimal growing conditions and nutrition levels, whilst eliminating problems such as contamination and competition during growth.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Hoenerloh A, Ozkan D, Scott J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Biomimetics

Year: 2022

Volume: 7

Issue: 2

Online publication date: 03/05/2022

Acceptance date: 29/04/2022

Date deposited: 19/07/2022

ISSN (electronic): 2313-7673

Publisher: MDPI

URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7020055

DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics7020055

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