Pei-Ching Chan, Wei-Lun Ku, Yung-Kun Chuang, Yu-Chieh Chou, Chen-Che Hsieh, Yung-Kai Lin, Shella Permatasari Santoso, Shin-Ping Lin
In this study, we explored the development and characterization of fungus-immobilized foamed bacterial cellulose (FBC) scaffolds using Pleurotus ostreatus and Aspergillus oryzae. FBC, a porous biomaterial with high structural integrity and resistance to enzymatic degradation, served as a three-dimensional matrix for fungal cultivation. The results indicated effective fungal immobilization, with the 1% A. oryzae-immobilized FBC group (FBC/1A) achieving the highest production yield. The water content (97%) and swelling behavior (95.9%) analyses revealed that P. ostreatus-immobilized FBC maintained high hydration levels and rehydration capacities, whereas A. oryzae immobilization led to slightly reduced water retention. Morphological assessments via SEM confirmed the presence of fungal-derived fibers integrated with native cellulose structures, suggesting successful immobilization. A thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated enhanced thermal stability in fungus-immobilized FBC, particularly in the A. oryzae group, while FTIR spectra suggested possible structural alterations induced by fungal activity. Collectively, these findings support the potential of fungal-immobilized FBC as a robust, biodegradable material with promising applications in biotechnology and sustainable material development. © 2025 by the authors.
School of Food Safety, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan; Department of Seafood Science, College of Hydrosphere, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan; Institute of Food Safety and Risk Management, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City, 20224, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University, Kalijudan 37, Surabaya, 60114, Indonesia; Chemical Engineering Master Program, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University, Kalijudan 37, Surabaya, 60114, Indonesia; Collaborative Research Center for Zero Waste and Sustainability, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University, Kalijudan 37, Surabaya, 60114, Indonesia