Living fungi could revolutionize wound healing through innovative bandages made from fungal hydrogels that mimic human tissue structure. Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered that Marquandomyces marquandii, a common soil mold, forms multilayered hydrogels capable of standing in for our own soft tissues. This breakthrough in hydrogel technology represents a significant advancement in biomedical materials that could transform how we approach tissue regeneration and wound care.
The Science Behind Fungal Hydrogels
Unlike synthetic alternatives, these living bio-integrated hydrogels develop naturally complex structures that closely resemble human skin and cartilage. According to lead researcher Atul Agrawal and his team, “Hydrogels are regarded as a promising alternative for applications in tissue regeneration and engineering, cell culture scaffolds, cell bioreactors, and wearable devices, owing to their ability to closely mimic the viscoelastic properties of soft tissues.” The unique properties of fungal networks make them particularly suitable for medical applications, as recent university research confirms.
Why Marquandomyces Marquandii Stands Out
This particular fungus species has shown remarkable properties that overcome limitations of previous fungal candidates. While other fungi tested for biomedical applications proved too brittle or dried out too quickly, M. marquandii demonstrates exceptional water retention capabilities. When grown using stationary liquid fermentation methods, this fungus forms hydrogels capable of retaining up to 83 percent water, making it ideal for maintaining moist wound environments essential for healing.
The fungus itself has an interesting history, having been recently reclassified from Paecilomyces marquandii to its own genus in 2020. Detailed fungal descriptions highlight its unique characteristics that make it suitable for medical applications. Mycologist Bryn Dentinger from the Natural History Museum of Utah explains that “as they grow forward, they lay down these cross walls that then compartmentalize a really long filament into many, many individual cells,” creating the intricate structures needed for effective wound dressings.
Multilayered Structure Mimics Human Tissue
The most remarkable feature of these fungal hydrogels is their complex, multilayered architecture that closely resembles human tissue organization. “What you are seeing here is a hydrogel with multilayers,” Agrawal describes, referring to fungal colonies growing in laboratory conditions. “These multiple layers have different porosity – the top layer has about 40 percent porosity, with alternating bands of 90 percent porosity and 70 percent porosity beneath.”
This variation in porosity creates structures that can perform different functions within a wound dressing:
- High-porosity layers for enhanced fluid absorption and nutrient transport
- Medium-porosity sections providing structural support while maintaining flexibility
- Lower-porosity surfaces creating protective barriers against contaminants
Advantages Over Conventional Wound Care
Traditional wound dressings often require frequent changes and can damage healing tissue during removal. These living fungal bandages offer several significant advantages according to recent materials research:
- Sustainable production using biological growth processes
- Self-organizing structures that require minimal manufacturing intervention
- Biocompatible materials that integrate naturally with human tissue
- Customizable properties through controlled growth conditions
Future Applications and Research Directions
The potential applications extend far beyond simple bandages. Researchers envision these fungal hydrogels serving as scaffolds for tissue engineering, platforms for drug delivery systems, and even as living sensors within wearable medical devices. The continuous growth characteristics of fungal mycelium, as documented in nature research, enable these materials to potentially adapt and respond to changing wound conditions.
Additional research into fungal behavior and growth patterns, including recent studies on biological networks, continues to reveal new possibilities for medical applications. The ability of fungi to form extensive, interconnected networks through mycelial growth provides a natural blueprint for creating materials that can integrate seamlessly with biological systems.
As this technology develops, we can expect to see more innovative applications of living materials in medicine. The intersection of mycology and materials science represents an exciting frontier in biomedical engineering, with fungal hydrogels leading the way toward more natural, effective wound healing solutions that work in harmony with the body’s own repair mechanisms.