Advanced mycelium materials as potential self-growing biomedical scaffolds

Mycelia, the vegetative part of fungi, are emerging as the avant-garde generation of natural,sustainable, and biodegradable materials for a wide range of applications. They are constitutedof a self-growing and interconnected fibrous network of elongated cells, and their chemical andphysical properties can be adjusted depending on the conditions of growth and the substrate theyare fed upon. So far, only extracts and derivatives from mycelia have been evaluated and tested forbiomedical applications. In this study, the entire fibrous structures of mycelia of the edible fungiPleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum are presented as self-growing bio-composites that mimicthe extracellular matrix of human body tissues, ideal as tissue engineering bio-scaffolds. To thispurpose, the two mycelial strains are inactivated by autoclaving after growth, and their morphology,cell wall chemical composition, and hydrodynamical and mechanical features are studied. Finally, theirbiocompatibility and direct interaction with primary human dermal fibroblasts are investigated. Thefindings demonstrate the potentiality of mycelia as all-natural and low-cost bio-scaffolds, alternativeto the tissue engineering systems currently in place.