Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered that the common soil fungus Marquandomyces marquandii can naturally grow into a hydrogel-like material with properties similar to water and human tissue.
The fungal hydrogel can absorb up to 83% of its weight in water while remaining soft, flexible, and resilient under stretching or pressure.
This unique combination of elasticity and biocompatibility makes it highly promising for medical applications — such as tissue regeneration, cell-culture scaffolds, and biomedical wearables. The research team is now in the process of filing a patent for the discovery.
Scientists explained that the fungus’s mycelium is composed mainly of chitin — the same natural polymer found in shellfish and insect exoskeletons. Its high porosity and compatibility with living tissues could make it an ideal foundation for next-generation bioengineered materials.
