Projects per year
Abstract
The advancement in the domain of Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) utilizing fungal cells marks a significant paradigm shift in materials science. This cutting-edge research explores the use of mycelium, the vegetative network of filamentous fungi, to engineer sophisticated functional materials. Mycelium inherently exhibits unique properties such as self-assembly, environmental responsiveness, and intrinsic self-healing capabilities, which are central to the development of fungal-based ELMs. This study introduces a novel approach in the synthesis of pure mycelium materials, demonstrating their potential as sustainable alternatives to traditional leather. The first objective is to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms and key parameters that govern the regeneration process in fungal ELMs. A crucial breakthrough of this research is the identification of chlamydospores—robust, thick-walled cells formed at the end of hyphae—as key contributors to the self-repair mechanisms in these materials. The second objective explores the viability of mycelium as a functional material, especially post-production. Our findings indicate that these mycelium-based materials exhibit exceptional resilience, capable of enduring extreme conditions such as desiccation and nutrient scarcity, while retaining the capacity for repair within a 48-hour timeframe. Finally, the study aims to quantitatively assess the self-healing efficiency of these materials. This includes a comprehensive analysis of the time required for healing and a detailed characterization of the mechanical and physical properties pre- and post-damage and healing. The research seeks to determine the extent to which these materials can recover their original structural integrity and functionality after undergoing damage and the timeframe for such recovery.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - 24 Jun 2024 |
Event | 9th International Conference on Self-Healing Materials (ICSHM2024) - CSIC, Madrid, Spain Duration: 24 Jun 2024 → 26 Jun 2024 https://icshm2024.org/ICSHM2024/welcome |
Conference
Conference | 9th International Conference on Self-Healing Materials (ICSHM2024) |
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Abbreviated title | ICSHM24 |
Country/Territory | Spain |
City | Madrid |
Period | 24/06/24 → 26/06/24 |
Internet address |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Biological Self-Repair in Fungal Engineered Living Materials: a study of the viability and regeneration of Ganoderma spp.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Active
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FWOTM1049: Design of self-healing living mycelium materials at the intersection between biology and materials science.
Vanden Elsacker, E., Peeters, E. & Van den Brande, N.
1/01/23 → 31/12/26
Project: Fundamental
Activities
- 1 Talk or presentation at a conference
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Biological Self-Repair In Fungal Engineered Living Materials: A Study Of The Viability And Regeneration Of Ganoderma Spp
Elise Vanden Elsacker (Speaker), Eveline Peeters (Contributor), Niko Van den Brande (Contributor), Martyn Dade-Robertson (Contributor) & Meng Zhang (Contributor)
14 Jun 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
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