The research team of Thu Dau Mot University has successfully created biological leather materials derived from bacterial cellulose and fungi, which is like animal skin, can be used to produce leather shoes.
Mushroom breeding to create biological skin. Image: NVCC
Since 2019, the team combined with Vu Mon Science and Technology Company began a biological skin development project. Scientists have used agricultural product fermentation technology to create animal skin replacement materials. To produce biological skin, the Cellulose paneling group initially, then culture cellulose – mushrooms and the last step is the skin dye.
According to the research team, the most difficult is to create an appropriate growth environment for fungal culture and bacterial cellulose. The essential nutrients include carbohydrate sources (such as molasses), fertilizer (diammonium phosphate), nitrogen source (ammonium sulfate), and pH adjustment compounds such as acetic acid and coconut water. In addition, supporting ingredients such as calcium carbonate and ion reducing water are also used to ensure the optimal conditions for the growth of bacteria and fungi.
After the culture is completed, the hybrid sheets between mycelium and cellulose bacteria (HMC) are removed and undergone two processing stages. First, they are exposed to boiling water, then warm sodium hydroxide solution to remove impurities and increase durability. Finally, the HMC sheet is dried to create a synthetic material like leather with high flexibility. After three years, the research team launched a complete biological leather product, applied to produce leather shoes.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Thuong, a consultant adviser, said that biological skin is developed by many countries, but the durability and natural ingredients are low, the biological decomposition is limited. These disadvantages have been overcome by the domestic research team by “developing hybrid hybrid techniques with bacterial cellulose, combined with nanotechnology in the skin”, PGS Thuong said.
Biological skin developed by the group derived from cellulose bacteria and fungi, produced through the fermentation of agricultural by -products such as fruit bark, molasses with sugar, with similar characteristics of animal skin, durable, flexible, waterproof. This type of leather can be applied in the production of leather shoes, bags, electric vehicles. This success helped the group to be granted US patent in 2022.
Fungal skin in the culture plate. Image: NVCC
To go to success “the group failed hundreds of times before finding the optimal method,” Assoc.Prof. Nguyen Thi Lien Thuong said. One of the biggest challenges that facilitates bacteria and fungi can grow together. Typically, mushrooms cannot grow in a low pH environment that cellulose production bacteria grow.
“Thanks to the new technology, it has created the optimal conditions for both of them to develop and form a hybrid material between fungi and cellulose bacteria,” the research team said.
The test results at the leather factory of the ISA Tantec Group (USA) in terms of tensile strength, bending, water resistance, UV rays, wear and biological percentage of HMC, all meet the factory standards. In addition, the research team also tested biodegradable ability in the soil environment. The results show that the bacteria in the soil can completely decompose the skin’s natural ingredients.
Compared to similar products, fungal hybridization techniques and nanotechnology in the skin of the research team create durable materials, good bearing, meeting animal skin replacement standards. With the same properties as genuine leather, the fungal cellulose can be applied in the production of footwear, bags, interior and fashion without negative impact on the environment. In addition, the production process does not use toxic chemicals, helping to minimize pollution compared to the traditional leather industry.
Mr. Reiner Hengstmann, a global director of the Puma environment, said that this biological skin is capable of highly applicable due to the durability of skin standards used in industry. The biological ingredients use agricultural waste products to produce “this material has human values and resolves environmental problems,” he said.
Ms. Phan Le Diem Trang, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Textile and Garment Association, said that biological skin from cellulose bacteria and fungi has a reasonable price compared to genuine leather, while contributing to reducing the killing of animals to get the skin. Compared to synthetic skin, this type of skin is environmentally friendly. Technically, thanks to modern production technology, the quality and thickness of the biological skin can be adjusted evenly as required. “The uniformity of the skin is the most important factor in the production of leather products,” Trang said.