Nano Research & Applications

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop new and large area mycelium-based biopolymers with good mechanical properties. Mycelium based polymer has received much attention recently due to its strong advantages such as wide availability low cost, and total composability without any toxicity. The present work aims to combine cultivation of new mycelial fiber from fungi over bioplastics obtained from agriculture waste. The field of bio-based polymers is a dynamic, versatile field in which the developments of natural polymers from different natural sources like agriculture, vegetable waste are becoming more and more important.  The most abundant component in these wastes is cellulose which is dissolved easily in trifluoroacetic acid, an organic acid. Fungi use the cellulose and other polysaccharides as a source of carbon, and as such these fungi secrete different types of enzymes like cellulases, peroxidases, lignocellulase which involves in the degradation plant-based carbon sources. In the present work, cellulose was dissolved in trifluoroacetic to make transparent bioplastics. These cellulose films were further used for the growth of mycelium fiber. Two different types of fungal mushroom variety were selected, namely Pleurotus Ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum. Both of these are edible mushrooms. They can grow long mycelium thread like fibers over the cellulose bioplastics as they consume it under optimum temperature and humidity conditions.