Additive Manufacturing of Living Composite Materials

Introduction

I envision a world in which the responsive power of biological systems is harnessed through direct integration in materials and structures. Biological materials constantly adapt to their environment, display lower embodied energy, and possess remarkable mechanical properties granted by their hierarchical structures.

Potential Impact

Adapting these principles to human-made objects promises to disrupt the way we engineer our high-performance critical structures. However, today’s engineering materials remain lifeless and show only limited abilities to adapt and reinforce under load, or to heal and repair in response to damage.

Research Focus

By addressing the lack of knowledge in:

1. Organism signalling
2. Additive fabrication
3. Responsive bio-inspired composites

I will be amongst the first to create living composites that will bridge the gap between biology and stiff, lightweight engineering structures.

Methodology

To achieve my vision of living structures, I will cross boundaries between three previously disconnected disciplines. I will:

1. Exploit the intrinsic electrical activity of fungal mycelium networks to couple electrical and mechanical response in mycelium composite materials.
2. Enable complex shaping using new additive manufacturing technologies to create bio-inspired living objects augmented with sensing and vasculature networks.
3. Develop topology optimised geometries and large-scale living structures that adapt and remodel during use.

Conclusion

The project combines these aspects to exploit organism growth and function in a way never done before to realise stiff, tough, and responsive materials, while paving the way for a future of living material structures.