International peer-reviewed journal publications

2024

  • Vandelook, S., Bassleer, B., Elsacker, E., & Peeters, E. (2024). Effects of Orange Peel Extract on Laccase Activity and Gene Expression in Trametes versicolor. Journal of Fungi, 10(6), [370]. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060370

2023

  • Kaiser, R., Bridgens, B., Elsacker, E., & Scott, J. (2023). BioKnit: development of mycelium paste for use with permanent textile formwork. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, [1229693]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1229693

  • Elsacker, E., Zhang, M., & Dade-Robertson, M. (2023). Fungal Engineered Living Materials: The Viability of Pure Mycelium Materials with Self-Healing Functionalities. Advanced Functional Materials, 33(29), [2301875]. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202301875

  • Elsacker, E., Vandelook, S., & Peeters, E. (2023). Recent technological innovations in mycelium materials as leather substitutes: a patent review. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, [1204861]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1204861

2022

  • Elsacker, E., Peeters, E., & De Laet, L. (2022). Large-scale robotic extrusion-based additive manufacturing with living mycelium materials. Sustainable Futures, 4(2022), 1-14. [100085]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2022.100085

  • Elsacker, E., De Laet, L., & Peeters, E. (2022). Functional Grading of Mycelium Materials with Inorganic Particles: The Effect of Nanoclay on the Biological, Chemical and Mechanical Properties. Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland), 7(2), 1-23. [57]. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7020057

2021

  • Vandelook, S., Elsacker, E., Van Wylick, A., De Laet, L., & Peeters, E. (2021). Current state and future prospects of pure mycelium materials. Fungal biology and biotechnology, 8(1), [20]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40694-021-00128-1

  • Elsacker, E., Vandelook, S., Damsin, B., Van Wylick, A., Peeters, E., & De Laet, L. (2021). Mechanical characteristics of bacterial cellulose-reinforced mycelium composite materials. Fungal biology and biotechnology, 8(1), [18]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40694-021-00125-4

  • Elsacker, E., Søndergaard, A., Van Wylick, A., Peeters, E., & De Laet, L. (2021). Growing living and multifunctional mycelium composites for large-scale formwork applications using robotic abrasive wire-cutting. Construction and Building Materials, 283, [122732]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122732

2020

  • Elsacker, E., Vandelook, S., Van Wylick, A., Ruytinx, J., De Laet, L., & Peeters, E. (2020). A comprehensive framework for the production of mycelium-based lignocellulosic composites. Science of the Total Environment, 725, [138431]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138431

2019

  • Elsacker, E., Vandelook, S., Brancart, J., Peeters, E., & De Laet, L. (2019). Mechanical, physical and chemical characterisation of mycelium-based composites with different types of lignocellulosic substrates. PLoS ONE, 14(7), [e0213954]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213954

PhD thesis

(2021) MYCELIUM MATTERS: An interdisciplinary exploration of the fabrication and properties of mycelium-based materials. VUBPRESS.

PDF

Environmental pollution and scarcity of natural resources have led to an increased interest in developing more sustainable materials. The traditional construction industry, which is mostly based on the extraction of fossil fuels and raw materials, has therefore been called into question. Biological materials that are created by growing mycelium-forming fungal microorganisms on natural fibres can form a solution. In this process, organic waste streams – such as agricultural waste – are valorised, while biodegradable material is created at the end of its life cycle; a process fitting with the spirit of a circular economy. Despite this promise, these materials’ characteristics have remained mostly unexplored. More scientific insights into growing and fabrication processes are required before incorporating these biomaterials into our daily lives. Therefore, this dissertation’s main goal is to explore the principal factors affecting the biological and material properties of mycelium materials and to broaden the potential of new fabrication technologies for architectural applications using fungal organisms. Ultimately, the research provides novel insights and a comprehensive overview of several crucial aspects that come into play during the production of fungi-based lignocellulosic composites. A method for selecting fungal species that incorporates biological, chemical and mechanical performance criteria has been developed. The interaction between fungi and their feedstock and the material properties of different types of feedstocks are investigated. Then, the optimisation of mechanical properties with different types of additives is studied. A novel fabrication process to produce large-scale architectural formwork is developed. Finally, various digital additive fabrications and design strategies that improve the colonisation of the fungi in a given geometry are explored. This hybrid investigation across disciplines is guided by the motivation to explore the growth and fabrication possibilities of mycelium materials from a bioengineering, material engineering, computational fabrication and architectural perspective.