Development of Trametes versicolor-Based Mycelium Leather through Innovative Inoculations and Post-Processing Approaches

Textile and fashion industry is one of the most polluting sectors worldwide, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination. Conventional leather tanning is a non-sustainable process that consumes large amounts of water and energy, while potentially releasing heavy metals and toxic compounds into the environment. Although synthetic leather simplifies production, it is derived from fossil resources and is non-biodegradable, raising additional environmental concerns. Filamentous fungi, with their capacity to form leather-like biomaterials through controlled fermentation, represent a promising and sustainable alternative. This work focused on improving the homogeneity and mechanical performance of mycelium-based mat grown through liquid-state surface fermentation. Different inoculation strategies were evaluated, with particular attention to the use of carriers and chlamydospores to promote a more uniform dispersion of fungal growth nuclei across the substrate surface. In addition, the inoculum amount was optimized by monitoring dry weight, ensuring the biomass was harvested at the end of the exponential phase to maximize growth efficiency. Post-processing treatments, applied individually and in combination, were then explored to enhance the material’s mechanical properties. The resulting samples were characterized through tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water contact angle (WCA) measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings highlight how inoculation strategies and post-processing treatments can strongly influence the structural integrity, homogeneity, and mechanical behavior of mycelium-based materials, reinforcing their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional leather.