Biosynthetic additive manufacturing through mycelium-bacteria consortia

Volumetric calcium carbonate deposition inside lignocellulosic 3D scaffolds is enabled by Trametes versicolor–Sporosarcina pasteurii consortia, boosting compressive Young’s modulus 7–14-fold and ultimate strength 5-fold.

• Why it matters: Lignocellulosic carbon is often lost to the atmosphere via microbial decomposition, while conventional microbial mineralization is limited to surfaces rather than scaffold interiors.
• What they did: The study fabricated 3D scaffolds from lignocellulosic biomass and coupled fungal self-assembly with bacterial biomineralization, using Trametes versicolor to guide spatial colonization of Sporosarcina pasteurii for interior CaCO3 deposition.
• The result: Mineral reinforcement via helicoidal Bouligand architectures yields 7–14-fold higher compressive Young’s modulus and 5-fold higher ultimate strength versus unmineralized conventional mycelium-based living composites, while the mycelial network supports autonomous self-healing and modular self-assembly.

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