Mycelium-composites has been emerging commercially as an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional materials. By utilizing the fungal mycelium’s ability to bond with lignin and cellulose fibers of plants, mycelium-composites can be made that are recyclable and renewable. Mycelium therefore has the potential to contribute to creating more sustainable options in material selection for product designers. However, the visual appearance of mycelium materials might pose a challenge when it comes to their adaption into society. Case-studies have indicated a negative reaction to the mycelium-composites aesthetics which are characterized by imperfections and irregularities with an off-white coloring. Using theories surrounding aesthetics, materials experience and emotional design, the purpose of this study was to further develop the visual and/or aesthetical aspects of a mycelium-composite through a material driven design process The results of material development is presented in a product concept that displays the insight that can assist designers create mycelium-based products that are more accepted by a broader market.

Guo, Cuixia. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-85). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Thesis committee --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / 摘要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgment --- p.v / List of Tables --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.vii / List of Abbreviations --- p.viii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction to immune system --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Immune effecter cells --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Macrophage --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Dendritic Cells (DCs) --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Immunomodulatory and antitumor activities of mushrooms --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Introduction to mushroom --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Mushroom polysaccharides --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Mushroom β-glucan --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- The receptors for polysaccharides associated with immune effecter cells --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- CR3 --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Dectin-1 --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- TLR2 --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5 --- Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) activation --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6 --- Previous studies on mushroom sclerotium --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Pleurotus tuber-regium (PT) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Polyporus rhinocerus (PR) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objectives --- p.21 / Chapter 2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Mushroom sclerotia --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Animal --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Cell lines --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Hot water extraction --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Measurement of monosaccharide profile --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Acid depolymerization --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Neutral sugar derivatization --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Gas chromatography (GC) --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Determination of molecular weight by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Determination of total sugar by phenol-sulfuric acid method --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Determination of protein content by Lowry-Folin method --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Detection of endotoxin --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Immunomodulatory activities induced in RAW264.7 cell line and murine peritoneal macrophages (PMs) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.7.1 --- Isolation of murine peritoneal macrophages (PMs) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.7.2 --- Detection of cell surface antigens on RAW 264.7 cells and PMs --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.7.3 --- Phagocytic uptake --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.7.4 --- Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.7.5 --- Nitric Oxide (NO) production --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.7.6 --- Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) expression --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.7.6.1 --- Cell lysates preparation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.7.6.2 --- Determination of protein concentrations --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.7.6.3 --- Western blot --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.7.7 --- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) production --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- DC cell marker determination --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) activation --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Determination of the expression of existing cell surface β-glucan receptors --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Statistical methods --- p.38 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1 --- Yield and chemical composition of mushroom sclerotial polysaccharides --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2 --- Endotoxin examination --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3 --- Monosaccharide profiles of PTW and PRW by GC --- p.41 / Chapter 3.4 --- Molecular weight profile by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5 --- Immunomodulatory activities induced in RAW264.7 cells and murine peritoneal macrophages (PMs) --- p.46 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Detection of cell surface antigens on RAW 264.7 cells and PMs --- p.46 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Phagocytic uptake --- p.49 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- ROS generation --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- NO production --- p.56 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- iNOS expression --- p.59 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- TNF-α production --- p.60 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Morphological changes of cells --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- DC cell marker determination --- p.64 / Chapter 3.6 --- Receptors expression on RAW 264.7 cells and PMs --- p.66 / Chapter 3.7 --- NF-kB activation --- p.68 / Chapter 3.8 --- Discussion --- p.70 / Chapter 4. --- Conclusions and Future Works --- p.73 / Chapter 5. --- References --- p.75

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Much of Nature is composed of highly modular and composable nested multicomponent living systems. Synthetic biology and bioengineering exploit this modularity to understand and engineer living things. This thesis explores two projects coupled by these principles, the first utilizing a synthetic genomics approach to probe the evolutionary history, flexibility, and modularity of core metabolism, and the second adapting and engineering components of a living material to generate living architecture and embed add program new behaviors into the living biocomposite. Chapter 1 details the synthetic resurrection of a core metabolic pathway lost from the metazoan lineage millions of years ago. All metazoans are auxotrophic for 9 of the 20 amino acids, the so-called “essential” amino acids. The pressures behind the loss of the 9 are a deep evolutionary puzzle. To investigate this event and probe the limits of core metabolic flexibility, we generated a synthetic valine prototrophic mammalian cell line, restoring valine self-sufficiency to the metazoan lineage. The restoration of this pathway implies the modern mammalian metabolism is still compatible with autogenous valine production, suggests profound modularity in core metabolism, and underscores the potential usefulness of large-scale synthetic genomics approaches in a answering deep evolutionary questions. Chapter 2 describes the engineering of a hybrid fungal-bacterial biocomposite by adapting and leveraging existing behaviors and microbial constituents of a living material. Fungal biocomposites are composed of a particulate lignocellulosic feedstock bound together into a bulk biocomposite by a network of dense fungal mycelium. Using a bioprospecting approach, we designed architectural and design strategies that relied on the natural substrate flexibility and growth patterns of the fungal component of the biocomposite to form origami-inspired human scale folding structures. Similarly, we isolated, characterized, and engineered a natural microbial component of the biocomposite’s own microbiome and used its pre-adapted ability to engraft in the growing biomaterial to embed new genetic functionalities in biocomposite objects. We believe that the strategy of bioprospecting useful components and behaviors holds promise for the development of future biomaterials adapted from living systems.

Humans used to be a part of nature, now we have become a force of nature. Our culture is based on infinite growth on a planet with finite resources. Its obvious that we need to change our lifestyle, in a radical way.Its not enough to drive a prius, buying organic food, or as an architect draw buildings with green roofs.We need a radical change of our lifestyle because we are facing radical change of our climate.Our impact is so great, occurs with such a speed and on a global scale that we have set of a mass extinction. My project consists of two parts.1: To apply a system, based on the unique properties of fungi, today.I want a site that is dead and polluted. 2: A site that will work as a testing ground, preparing us for a very harsh future. Alberta, CanadaOil sand mines the size of United Kingdom. Where a brutal mining process leaves a destroyed landscape behind. I see this landscape as a good preview of the future of our planet.I have formed a system that uses this extreme condition as an asset. The system will not only heal the landscape, it will also produce essential products such as food, fuel and material. All from fungi.The system is a network of fungi farms, growing through the land in patterns inspired by how fungi grows. / Människor brukade vara en del av naturen, nu har vi blivit en naturkatastrof. Vår kultur är baserad på evig tillväxt på en planet med begränsade tillgångar. Det är uppenbart att vi behöver ändra vår livsstil på ett radikalt sätt. För vi kommer snart att möta radikala ändringar av vårat klimat.   Svamp är en fascinerande livsform. Den var den första organismen att bosätta sig på jordens landmassor för 1.5 miljarder år sedan. Svamp kan leva utan ljus, kan leva i extremt förorenade miljöer och är en perfekt partner för att möta radikal klimat. Mitt projekt består av två delar. Att applicera ett system på oljesand gruvorna i Alberta, Kanada. Detta för att förbereda oss på en global ekologisk kollaps.

This project deals with alternativ materials, cultivated or made from biological processes. It is a attempt to work with living structures and letting go of the concept of immediate results to create sustainable architecture.

This thesis investigates the role of industrial design in promoting sustainability and circular economy principles, particularly through collaboration with PaperShell AB, a company specializing in sustainable composites. The study focuses on developing a circular bio-economy system that integrates local mycelium cultures for material decomposition and soil regeneration. The central research question is: How can industrial design practices evolve to foster ecological regeneration while maintaining economic viability? Key findings emphasize the importance of closing material loops and reimagining industrial processes to harmonize with ecological systems. The Catifa Carta project, a collaboration with the Italian furniture brand Arper, serves as a case study demonstrating the practical application and success of these principles. Future research directions include exploring the scalability of these practices and additional ecological partnerships.

Mycelium-based composite (MBC) is being developed and researched in multiple commercial markets as an alternative sustainable material. MBC utilizes the mycelium ability to create a web-like structure in lignocellulosic structures. However, producing the material in a natural environment and subjecting it to various tests; the study aims to examine the distress of the southern Swedish climate on MBC grown in different substrates. The selection of substrates are based on their compatibility to fungal growth, the substrates are also locally sourced and grown. This is to explore MBC material production with a focus on circular economy as biodegradable material in architecture could help develop a reuse and recycle system. Various tests were done on the different substrate MBC to determine its characteristics, limitations and opportunities. The tests were developed with a focus on architectural construction and the southern Swedish climate; meaning experiments including MBC reaction to fire, water and temperatures. The results are based on the different MBC materials reaction, this ends with a description on how the materials could be used and developed in the future.

The current anthropogenic practices of generating single-use waste streams in agriculture, forestry and manufacturing industries have created a host of environmental health problems. Humankind's reliance on non-renewable resources for the production of food and materials, and its current approach to product design and development, are clearly unsustainable. One mitigation strategy to reducing industrial and municipal solid waste, as well as environmental pollution, can be found in using white rot fungi to valorize our planet's most abundant and regenerative natural resource – plant biomass containing lignocellulose. From residual dry plant matter, white rot fungi can be employed through a solid-state fermentation process to produce a variety of edible, nutrient-dense saprotrophic mushrooms in addition to biologically augmented composite materials. Under the framework of the circular economy, agricultural and forestry byproducts with fibers containing lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose may be used as a feedstock for the production of both food and biomaterials – keeping plant biomass revolving through multiple cycles of use and reuse for a variety of product outputs that are biodegradable and help to sequester carbon. In this study, mushrooms were grown on a variety of lignocellulosic substrates derived from agricultural and forestry residues. Hemp-based substrates performed the best of the feedstocks with regard to mushroom yield and mycelium colonization time. Additionally, a number of mycelium composite products were designed and fabricated in this study using residual lignocellulosic plant biomass, including: insulation bricks, acoustical panels, and biodegradable planter pots. In particular, spent mushroom substrate containing hemp hurd and other agricultural and forestry residues showed significant potential in upcycling lignocellulosic plant biomass for the production of both mushrooms and mycelium materials. Regenerative design practices demonstrated how food and materials can be generated from the same lignocellulosic feedstock; therefore, reducing waste, circulating products and materials, and ultimately regenerating nature. / Master of Science / Environmental pollution and natural resource scarcity have encouraged exploration into using biologically based materials for the production of more ecologically friendly products. By valorizing the Earth's most abundant, renewable natural resource for the production of food and materials– dry plant matter containing lignocellulose – waste is reduced, carbon is stored, and materials can remain upcycled through multiple generations of production. Lignocellulosic residues – natural fibers containing the biopolymers lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose – have recently been given increased attention due to their ability to be aggregated and grown into low-cost, lightweight materials using white rot fungi. Mushroom farming has historically valorized lignocellulosic agricultural and forestry residues to grow an edible, nutrient-dense food crop. This thesis investigates the potential of various agricultural and forestry residues for the production of mushrooms and mycelium-based lignocellulosic composites. Furthermore, this study explores the utilization of spent mushroom substrate for the production of several mycelium-based composite products within the framework of the circular economy. Hemp-based substrates demonstrated significant potential in both mushroom production and mycelium composite fabrication, outperforming other agricultural residues in this study with regard to mushroom yield and speed of mycelial growth of Pleurotus ostreatus. More research into the tunable lignocellulosic substrate compositions will continue to help advance mushroom production and mycelium-based composite generation as environmentally friendly materials and production practices continue to gain interest.

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy