Project description
Fungi-based engineered living materials with controllable properties
Fungi comprise approximately 100 000 described species to date. The real total is estimated to be in the millions. They are amazing factories, producing numerous bioactive metabolites of therapeutic interest. The EU-funded LoopOfFun project has recognised their potential in yet another innovative area – as part of engineered living materials (ELMs), with open- and closed-loop control of mechanical and structural properties. The project will identify fungi gifted with superior abilities for materials synthesis and harness them for synthetic biology-based programming. The programming will be accomplished via a novel automatic robotised platform that will develop the fungi into ELMs, based on iterative design-build-test-learn cycles. The outcomes will then support rational design of such materials.
Objective
In an interdisciplinary approach, LoopOfFun will develop a conceptual and technological framework for the efficient and effective development of fungal-based living materials with open- and closed-loop control of mechanical and structural properties. This framework is based on four pillars: (i) the development of genetically encoded sensors and actuators for reading and writing mechanical and structural material properties as well as the assembly of these modules to open- and closed-loop control circuits, (ii) the identification of filamentous fungi with naturally evolved superior properties for material synthesis as well as accessing them for synthetic biology-based programming, (iii) the development of the 4D Explorer, an automated, robotized platform for the efficient and effective development of engineered living materials based on iterative design-build-test-learn cycles, and (iv) a holistic approach for designing the final products based on the novel opportunities of LoopOfFun advances. Following this framework, LoopOfFun will produce materials featuring open- and closed-loop control of mechanical and structural properties. The intrinsic control features make the materials robust towards environmental fluctuations while aligning material properties with usage characteristics. The development and applicability of the novel materials will be shown by producing two different demonstrator materials at cm-m scale, one as structural material and the other one for pollutant degradation. The framework developed here as well as its underlying routines can generically be applied for the design and optimization of ELMs made of other organisms and matrices. LoopOfFun has an effective strategy for IP protection as well as for dissemination and interaction with commercialization partners. LoopOfFun will comprehensively address its stakeholders and establish a communication strategy designed at promoting ELMs as a sustainable contribution to the EU technology field.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinator
66123 Saarbruecken
Germany