Mycological Biomaterial

Abstract

A growth medium formed as an inoculum including a preselected fungus and a nutrient material capable of being digested by the fungus is placed in or on a tool formed of a material capable of being at least partially consumed by the fungus. The tool may define a cavity of predetermined shape for the growth medium or the tool may form a scaffolding on which the growth medium grows into the final product taking on the shape of the tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mycological biomaterial, wherein the mycological biomaterial is formed by:
 forming a growth medium comprising an inoculum including a preselected fungus and a nutrient material capable of being digested by the fungus; and   placing the growth medium in a tool formed of a material that is capable of being at least partially consumed by the fungus, wherein the tool defines a cavity of a predetermined shape for the growth medium and the tool serves as a scaffold for growth of the preselected fungus.   
     
     
         2 . The mycological biomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein the material that is capable of being at least partially consumed by the fungus comprises at least one of: plant fibers, paper fibers, plant-derived non-woven materials, and plant-derived woven materials. 
     
     
         3 . The mycological biomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein the material that is capable of being at least partially consumed by the fungus comprises at least one of:
 synthetic fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, nylon fibers and plastic fibers.   
     
     
         4 . The mycological biomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein the tool serves as a scaffold for fungal growth by allowing pre-selected fungus to bind to the tool. 
     
     
         5 . The mycological biomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein the tool serves as a scaffold for fungal growth by defining a negative space that is populated during fungal growth. 
     
     
         6 . The mycological biomaterial of  claim 1 , wherein the preselected fungus grows through and over the tool. 
     
     
         7 . The mycological biomaterial of  claim 6 , wherein the tool is formed of a plastic mesh and the preselected fungus grows through and around the plastic mesh. 
     
     
         8 . The mycological biomaterial of  claim 7 , wherein the plastic mesh has a plurality of cavities that are of sufficient diameter to retain the growth medium while allowing air flow.