Mycelium-based material remains biologically active after fabrication and can be reactivated to seal tears, offering a potential new generation of biodegradable textiles
Researchers in China have developed a living textile made from fungal mycelium that can repair damaged areas when reactivated, creating a new approach to self-repairing and biodegradable materials, as reported by Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The research team developed the material using Cordyceps militaris, cultivating the fungus in liquid before forming its mycelium into small spherical clusters. These clusters are then placed in moulds, where neighbouring fungal structures naturally connect to create a continuous sheet.
Unlike conventional textiles, the material does not rely on adhesives, stitching or a separate backing layer to maintain its structure. Instead, the interconnected fungal filaments provide the basis of the fabric.
A key feature of the technology is that the fungus remains alive after the textile has been manufactured. Researchers dry the material at approximately 45°C, placing the organism into a low-metabolism dormant state rather than destroying it. This allows the textile to remain stable during storage while keeping its biological repair capability intact.
When the material is damaged, researchers can reactivate the dormant fungal network by applying a nutrient solution made from potato water along with a small amount of fresh fungal material. The fungal filaments then resume growth and gradually bridge the damaged section.
The resulting material is also naturally water-repellent, giving it some self-cleaning properties without requiring an additional surface treatment.
Researchers describe the mycelium as a modular platform whose properties can potentially be modified through interaction with other microorganisms. Co-cultivating the fungus with yeasts or other fungal species could introduce additional characteristics, including pigmentation and increased resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
Laboratory tests showed that a thread made by twisting four strips of the material could withstand a load of 1 kilogram. Treatment with glycerol also made the material sufficiently flexible to be folded, cut and sewn using techniques similar to those applied to conventional fabrics.
The textile demonstrated another important environmental advantage during laboratory composting tests: it almost completely decomposed in soil within 41 days.
The researchers produced a prototype garment to demonstrate the material's potential applications. Its texture has been compared with soft non-woven fabric or flexible leather.
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