Innovative ‘Living’ Building Material Derived from Fungi and Bacteria May Enable Self-Healing Structures

Photo credit: www.smithsonianmag.com

Researchers aim to create a greener alternative to concrete, though widespread adoption remains a distant goal

Margherita Bassi – Daily Correspondent

April 24, 2025 10:48 a.m.

Concrete is a fundamental material in the construction industry, but its production has significant environmental drawbacks. The process relies heavily on fossil fuels and is associated with chemical reactions that result in substantial carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for nearly 8 percent of global CO2 emissions.

To address these environmental concerns, researchers are exploring alternative materials that could replace concrete with more sustainable options. One promising avenue is the development of biomaterials, which are derived from biological sources.

Recent advancements have led to the creation of a new building material that combines mycelium—the network of filamentous cells produced by fungi—and bacterial cells. A study published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science indicates that this material, which maintains viable bacteria, could serve as an environmentally friendly, self-healing construction option in the future.

The researchers cultivated mycelium from the fungus Neurospora crassa, popularly known as red bread mold, to form a dense scaffold. They then introduced the bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii to the structure.

According to Chelsea Heveran, a co-author of the study and a specialist in engineered living materials at Montana State University, these organisms were chosen for several factors. “They pose minimal risk to human health. S. pasteurii is a prevalent soil microorganism, widely studied for its role in biomineralization.” She also notes that N. crassa is a prominent model organism in fungal research.

Both organisms exhibit biomineralization capabilities, a natural process that creates structures like bones and coral through the formation of hardened calcium carbonate. The research team stimulated biomineralization by placing the scaffold in a medium containing urea and calcium, which prompted the bacteria to generate calcium carbonate quickly, enhancing the material’s strength.

Crucially, the bacteria S. pasteurii remained viable for at least one month. Incorporating live organisms into building materials has the potential to confer unique attributes, such as self-repair and self-cleaning, provided the organisms are alive. While this study did not directly assess these traits, the extended viability opens the door for such functionalities in future applications.

Heveran expressed enthusiasm about the findings, stating, “With sufficient viability, we can introduce enduring biological characteristics into the material, including self-healing and environmental sensing capabilities.”

This month-long viability marks a significant enhancement compared to previous attempts at living biomaterials, which typically exhibited much shorter lifespans. Moreover, prior materials often lacked the complex internal structures necessary for construction. This study found that “fungal scaffolds are beneficial for controlling the internal architecture,” allowing for diverse geometrical designs.

The outcome is a robust framework that could pave the way for eco-friendly building materials. Yet, as pointed out by New Atlas, several challenges still need to be addressed before large-scale adoption, including scaling up production, ensuring versatility for various construction applications, and mitigating the higher costs associated with living materials.

Heveran cautioned that current biomaterials do not yet possess sufficient strength to replace concrete in every context, stating, “However, we and others are striving to enhance their properties for broader application.”

In support of this research, Aysu Kuru, a building engineer at the University of Sydney, remarked that using mycelium as a scaffolding medium represents a simple yet effective strategy for developing living materials.

Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Source
www.smithsonianmag.com