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Fukasawa Y, Akai D, Takehi T, Osada Y. Electrical integrity and week-long oscillation in fungal mycelia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15601. [PMID: 38971913 PMCID: PMC11227530 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66223-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The electrical potential of the mycelia of a cord-forming wood decay fungus, Pholiota brunnescens, was monitored for over 100 days on a plain agar plate during the colonization onto a wood bait. Causality analyses of the electrical potential at different locations of the mycelium revealed a clear and stable causal relationship with the directional flow of the electrical potential from the hyphae at the bait location to other parts of the mycelium. However, this causality disappeared after 60 days of incubation, coinciding with the onset of slow electrical oscillation at the bait location, which occurred over one week per oscillation cycle. We speculated that the hyphae that initially colonized the bait may act as a temporary activity center, which generates electrical signals to other parts of the mycelium, thereby facilitating the colonization of the entire mycelial body to the bait. The week-long electrical oscillation represents the longest oscillation period ever recorded in fungi and warrants further investigation to elucidate its function and stability in response to environmental stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fukasawa
- Laboratory of Forest Ecology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko, Osaki, Miyagi, 989-6711, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Akai
- National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College, 888 Nishi-Katakaimachi, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-0817, Japan
- Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Takayuki Takehi
- National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College, 888 Nishi-Katakaimachi, Nagaoka, Niigata, 940-0817, Japan
| | - Yutaka Osada
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8578, Japan
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Phillips N, Gandia A, Adamatzky A. Electrical response of fungi to changing moisture content. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2023; 10:8. [PMID: 37013653 PMCID: PMC10069029 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-023-00155-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycelium-bound composites are potential alternatives to conventional materials for a variety of applications, including thermal and acoustic building panels and product packaging. If the reactions of live mycelium to environmental conditions and stimuli are taken into account, it is possible to create functioning fungal materials. Thus, active building components, sensory wearables, etc. might be created. This research describes the electrical sensitivity of fungus to changes in the moisture content of a mycelium-bound composite. Trains of electrical spikes initiate spontaneously in fresh mycelium-bound composites with a moisture content between [Formula: see text] 95% and [Formula: see text] 65%, and between [Formula: see text] 15% and [Formula: see text] 5% when partially dried. When the surfaces of mycelium-bound composites were partially or totally encased with an impermeable layer, increased electrical activity was observed. In fresh mycelium-bound composites, electrical spikes were seen both spontaneously and when induced by water droplets on the surface. Also explored is the link between electrical activity and electrode depth. Future designs of smart buildings, wearables, fungi-based sensors, and unconventional computer systems may benefit from fungi configurations and biofabrication flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Phillips
- Unconventional Computing Laboratory, Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
| | - Antoni Gandia
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology, CSIC-UPV, Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrew Adamatzky
- Unconventional Computing Laboratory, Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
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Nikolaidou A, Phillips N, Tsompanas MA, Adamatzky A. Responsive fungal insoles for pressure detection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4595. [PMID: 36944797 PMCID: PMC10030783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31594-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycelium bound composites are promising materials for a diverse range of applications including wearables and building elements. Their functionality surpasses some of the capabilities of traditionally passive materials, such as synthetic fibres, reconstituted cellulose fibres and natural fibres. Thereby, creating novel propositions including augmented functionality (sensory) and aesthetic (personal fashion). Biomaterials can offer multiple modal sensing capability such as mechanical loading (compressive and tensile) and moisture content. To assess the sensing potential of fungal insoles we undertook laboratory experiments on electrical response of bespoke insoles made from capillary matting colonised with oyster fungi Pleurotus ostreatus to compressive stress which mimics human loading when standing and walking. We have shown changes in electrical activity with compressive loading. The results advance the development of intelligent sensing insoles which are a building block towards more generic reactive fungal wearables. Using FitzHugh-Nagumo model we numerically illustrated how excitation wave-fronts behave in a mycelium network colonising an insole and shown that it may be possible to discern pressure points from the mycelium electrical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Nikolaidou
- Unconventional Computing Laboratory, UWE, Bristol, UK.
- Department of Architecture, UWE, Bristol, UK.
| | - Neil Phillips
- Unconventional Computing Laboratory, UWE, Bristol, UK
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Wei Q, Xue S, Wu W, Liu S, Li S, Zhang C, Jiang S. Plasma Meets MOFs: Synthesis, Modifications, and Functionalities. CHEM REC 2023:e202200263. [PMID: 36633461 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202200263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
As a porous and network materials consisting of metals and organic ligands, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have become one of excellent crystalline porous materials and play an important role in the era about materials science. Plasma, as a useful tool for stimulating efficient reactions under many conditions, and the plasma-assisted technology gets more attractions and endows MOFs more properties. Based on its feature, the research about the modifications and functionalities of MOFs have been developing a certain extent. This review contains a description of the methods for plasma-assisted modification and synthesis of MOFs, with specifically focusing on the plasma-assisted potential for modifications and functionalities of MOFs. The different applications of plasma-assisted MOFs were also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wei
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Sen Xue
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Weijie Wu
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Suli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, 211171, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Chunmei Zhang
- Institute of Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China
| | - Shahua Jiang
- Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
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Przyczyna D, Szacilowski K, Chiolerio A, Adamatzky A. Electrical frequency discrimination by fungi Pleurotus ostreatus. Biosystems 2022; 222:104797. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Sydor M, Cofta G, Doczekalska B, Bonenberg A. Fungi in Mycelium-Based Composites: Usage and Recommendations. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 15:ma15186283. [PMID: 36143594 PMCID: PMC9505859 DOI: 10.3390/ma15186283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Mycelium-Based Composites (MBCs) are innovative engineering materials made from lignocellulosic by-products bonded with fungal mycelium. While some performance characteristics of MBCs are inferior to those of currently used engineering materials, these composites nevertheless prove to be superior in ecological aspects. Improving the properties of MBCs may be achieved using an adequate substrate type, fungus species, and manufacturing technology. This article presents scientifically verified guiding principles for choosing a fungus species to obtain the desired effect. This aim was realized based on analyses of scientific articles concerning MBCs, mycological literature, and patent documents. Based on these analyses, over 70 fungi species used to manufacture MBC have been identified and the most commonly used combinations of fungi species-substrate-manufacturing technology are presented. The main result of this review was to demonstrate the characteristics of the fungi considered optimal in terms of the resulting engineering material properties. Thus, a list of the 11 main fungus characteristics that increase the effectiveness in the engineering material formation include: rapid hyphae growth, high virulence, dimitic or trimitic hyphal system, white rot decay type, high versatility in nutrition, high tolerance to a substrate, environmental parameters, susceptibility to readily controlled factors, easy to deactivate, saprophytic, non-mycotoxic, and capability to biosynthesize natural active substances. An additional analysis result is a list of the names of fungus species, the types of substrates used, the applications of the material produced, and the main findings reported in the scientific literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Sydor
- Department of Woodworking and Fundamentals of Machine Design, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-618466144
| | - Grzegorz Cofta
- Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
| | - Beata Doczekalska
- Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
| | - Agata Bonenberg
- Institute of Interior Design and Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
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van den Brandhof JG, Wösten HAB. Risk assessment of fungal materials. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2022; 9:3. [PMID: 35209958 PMCID: PMC8876125 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-022-00134-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustainable fungal materials have a high potential to replace non-sustainable materials such as those used for packaging or as an alternative for leather and textile. The properties of fungal materials depend on the type of fungus and substrate, the growth conditions and post-treatment of the material. So far, fungal materials are mainly made with species from the phylum Basidiomycota, selected for the mechanical and physical properties they provide. However, for mycelium materials to be implemented in society on a large scale, selection of fungal species should also be based on a risk assessment of the potential to be pathogenic, form mycotoxins, attract insects, or become an invasive species. Moreover, production processes should be standardized to ensure reproducibility and safety of the product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen G van den Brandhof
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Han A B Wösten
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Sydor M, Bonenberg A, Doczekalska B, Cofta G. Mycelium-Based Composites in Art, Architecture, and Interior Design: A Review. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 14:145. [PMID: 35012167 PMCID: PMC8747211 DOI: 10.3390/polym14010145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have attracted growing attention due to their role in the development of eco-design methods. We concurrently analysed scientific publications, patent documents, and results of our own feasibility studies to identify the current design issues and technologies used. A literature inquiry in scientific and patent databases (WoS, Scopus, The Lens, Google Patents) pointed to 92 scientific publications and 212 patent documents. As a part of our own technological experiments, we have created several prototype products used in architectural interior design. Following the synthesis, these sources of knowledge can be concluded: 1. MBCs are inexpensive in production, ecological, and offer a high artistic value. Their weaknesses are insufficient load capacity, unfavourable water affinity, and unknown reliability. 2. The scientific literature shows that the material parameters of MBCs can be adjusted to certain needs, but there are almost infinite combinations: properties of the input biomaterials, characteristics of the fungi species, and possible parameters during the growth and subsequent processing of the MBCs. 3. The patent documents show the need for development: an effective method to increase the density and the search for technologies to obtain a more homogeneous internal structure of the composite material. 4. Our own experiments with the production of various everyday objects indicate that some disadvantages of MBCs can be considered advantages. Such an unexpected advantage is the interesting surface texture resulting from the natural inhomogeneity of the internal structure of MBCs, which can be controlled to some extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Sydor
- Department of Woodworking and Fundamentals of Machine Design, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
| | - Agata Bonenberg
- Institute of Interior Design and Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Beata Doczekalska
- Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (B.D.); (G.C.)
| | - Grzegorz Cofta
- Department of Chemical Wood Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (B.D.); (G.C.)
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