Phillips Neil, Gandia Antoni, Adamatzky Andrew
Unconventional Computing Laboratory, Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology, CSIC-UPV, Valencia, Spain.
Fungal Biol Biotechnol. 2023 Apr 3;10(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s40694-023-00155-0.
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.
菌丝体结合复合材料是传统材料在多种应用中的潜在替代品，包括隔热隔音建筑板材和产品包装。如果考虑活菌丝体对环境条件和刺激的反应，就有可能制造出功能性真菌材料。因此，可能制造出主动式建筑构件、可穿戴传感设备等。本研究描述了真菌对菌丝体结合复合材料含水量变化的电敏感性。在含水量介于[公式：见正文]95%和[公式：见正文]65%之间的新鲜菌丝体结合复合材料中，以及在部分干燥后含水量介于[公式：见正文]15%和[公式：见正文]5%之间时，会自发产生一连串电脉冲。当菌丝体结合复合材料的表面部分或完全被不透水层包裹时，会观察到电活动增强。在新鲜菌丝体结合复合材料中，电脉冲既能自发出现，也能由表面的水滴引发。还探讨了电活动与电极深度之间的联系。智能建筑、可穿戴设备、真菌基传感器和非常规计算机系统的未来设计可能会受益于真菌配置和生物制造的灵活性。
