Mycelium derived from Ganoderma lucidum was employed as a template for synthesising silicon oxide (SiOx) nanofibers. The intricate structures of mycelial hyphae fibrils were replicated with high precision using an inexpensive commercial silane (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane (APTES). Following the removal of the organic mycelium template phase at 600 degrees C, APTES was successfully converted to SiOx. The resulting SiOx fibres retained the morphology of the mycelium template, with a nearly identical fibre density to the original fibrous network. A fibril diameter reduction of approximately 43% was observed from 603 to 344 nm. All synthesised materials exhibited coherent structural integrity, sufficient for handling without breakage, although they were notably less mechanically flexible than the original mycelium template. The novel hybrid mycelium-3-aminopropyl-silsesquioxane fibre network and the thermally converted SiOx network displayed notable liquid absorption properties. These materials allowed for the preferential absorption of oil or water, depending on the presence of the amino group functionality. Remarkably, the SiOx network rapidly absorbed methylene blue-dyed water within 400 ms, demonstrating behaviour opposite to the virgin mycelium network. Additionally, the materials exhibited high thermal stability, withstanding flame exposure at approximately 1400 degrees C while maintaining their nano/micromorphology. This innovative approach of using "living" templates expands the range of morphologies that can be replicated in inorganic materials, enabling the creation of genetically and environmentally tuneable structures. The SiOx nanofibers produced through this method have potential applications in various fields, including water purification, biosensors, catalytic support, and insulation.

Proteins derived from agroindustrial coproducts and a natural cross-linking agent (genipap oil containing genipin) were used to develop porous materials by reactive extrusion for replacing fossil-based absorbents. Incorporating genipap oil allowed the production of lightweight structures with high saline uptake (above 1000%) and competing retention capacity despite their porous nature. The mechanical response of the genipap-cross-linked materials was superior to that of the noncross-linked ones and comparable to those cross-linked using commercial genipin. The extruded products were hemocompatible and soil-biodegradable in less than 6 weeks. The compounds generated by the degradation process were not found to be toxic to the soil, showing a high bioassimilation capacity by promoting grass growth. The results demonstrate the potential of biopolymers and new green cross-linkers to produce fully renewable-based superabsorbents in hygiene products with low ecotoxicity. The study further promotes the production of these absorbents using low-cost proteins and continuous processing such as reactive extrusion.

Genipap (Genipa americana L.), also known as caruto, is a fruit native to Central and South America and presents a novel source of a crosslinking substance containing genipin for biopolymers in various applications. In this study, the fruit's core was used to extract the genipin-rich genipap oil, and a complete characterization of the oil as an inexpensive replacement for commercial genipin powder is included. The extracted genipap oil shows a high phenolic content and remarkable non-hemolytic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. The potential of genipap oil is further demonstrated by its advantage over commercial genipin powder, which did not show antioxidant activity. The crosslinking capacity of the genipap oil was tested with chitosan films and hot-pressed sheets of protein blends from agro-industrial biomass, including zein, wheat gluten, and potato protein. The results indicated that incorporating genipap oil in these blends allowed for manufacturing homogenous structures and improved their mechanical performance compared to the non-crosslinked blends. The use of the oil represents an advantage from a material engineering perspective as it allows for better distribution of genipin during the thermal processing of the materials compared with the commercial genipin. Further, commercial genipin requires solvents and extensive purification processes, which hinders its upscalability. These results support the use of the extracted fruit oil as a green, inexpensive, efficient crosslinking agent, opening new avenues for several applications. Genipap (Genipa americana L.), also known as caruto, is a fruit native to Central and South America and presents a novel source of a crosslinking substance containing genipin for biopolymers in various applications.