Synthesis and applications of fungal mycelium-based advanced functional materials

Over the last couple of decades, the introduction of living systems to material science for the synthesis of functional materials from biological resources is receiving immense consideration. This is also in accordance with the need for green and sustainable development of new materials. For example, the growing concerns of the degradation of synthetic plastics are shifting the direction of materials-related research to the use of polymeric materials acquired from renewable resources. For example, the fungal mycelium-based materials are produced by growing the vegetative part of mushroom-forming fungi on different organic substrates. Such fungi are known for their ability to degrade agricultural wastes such as straws and sawdust. The mycelium-based composites having tailored structural, physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological properties are relying on the strain, feeding substrate, and the manufacturing process. The mycelium cell wall mainly contains the chitin, glucans, proteins, and lipids, whose concentrations depend upon the feeding substrate that ultimately defines the final properties of the synthesized materials. The mycelium-based functional materials with tunable properties are synthesized by selecting the desired components and the synthesis method. The pure and composites of stiff, elastic, porous, less dense, fast-growing, and low-cost mycelium-derived materials with efficient antimicrobial, antioxidant, and skin whitening properties pave their way in various applications such as construction, packaging, medicine, and cosmetics. This review describes the synthesis and structural organization of mycelium-based materials. It further discusses the effect of different factors on the material properties. Finally, it summarizes different applications of mycelium-based materials in medicine, cosmetics, packaging, and construction fields.