Fungal Mycelium Films Engineered as Renewable Fibrous Materials for Drug Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Mycology

Background:

• Sustainable materials are crucial for advancing drug delivery technologies.
• Food-grade fungal mycelium, such as Rhizopus oligosporus, offers a renewable fibrous substrate.
• Mycelium's natural origin and consumption in diets suggest biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Rhizopus oligosporus mycelium films as a novel biomaterial for oral drug delivery.
• To characterize the physical properties and drug-loading capabilities of mycelium films.
• To evaluate the biological safety and drug release modulation potential of these films.

Main Methods:

• Solid-state cultivation of Rhizopus oligosporus to produce mycelium films.
• Micro-cutting and template-guided growth for 3D shaping.
• Incorporation of small-molecule and particulate drug formulations.
• In vitro cell viability assays and in vivo gastrointestinal transit studies in rats.

Main Results:

• Porous, mechanically compliant mycelium films with defined 3D geometries were successfully produced.
• Films demonstrated capacity for accommodating drug cargo, functioning as passive carriers or release-modulating interfaces.
• In vitro and in vivo studies showed no cytotoxic effects or adverse gastrointestinal passage.

Conclusions:

• Rhizopus oligosporus mycelium films represent a sustainable and shape-malleable biomaterial for oral drug delivery.
• The tunable functional properties of these films allow for controlled drug release applications.
• Mycelium films exhibit promising biocompatibility for gastrointestinal applications.