In response to the urgent need for low‐carbon and energy‐efficient materials in the built environment, mycelium‐bound composites (MBCs), produced through fungal mycelium growth on organic waste, have emerged in the building market as sustainable alternatives to petroleum‐derived insulation and particleboards. However, the rough, hydrophobic mycelium surfaces of MBCs may pose practical challenges for installation, such as heat loss at panel–panel interfacial joints and limited compatibility with conventional fastening and adhesives. A biocompatible adhesive is therefore needed for seamless assemblies. Fungal biowelding, the innate ability of mycelium to grow across interfaces and bond materials together, holds promise as a biological interfacial adhesive. This review elucidates the interfacial bonding mechanisms of mycelium and examines how biowelding behaviors govern the fabrication of sustainable materials and engineered living composite systems. Future strategies for optimizing mycelium‐mediated adhesion and the potential use of biowelding as a bioadhesive are further discussed in the building and wood industries. By leveraging the adaptive growth, interfacial bonding, and biodegradability of mycelium, biowelding offers a regenerative adhesive solution toward circular construction systems.
Bai et al. (Thu,) studied this question.