As society seeks alternatives to energy-intensive manufacturing, biological growth offers an underexplored route for material fabrication. While prior studies have demonstrated direct ink writing of mycelium-based composites, these approaches often use mycelium only as a structural filler. Here, we exploit active hyphal growth as a post-printing, growth-driven functionalization mechanism to self-assemble particles and tune material properties. When micro- and nano-particles are introduced into the liquid growth medium, their incorporation follows distinct, size-dependent pathways. Nanoparticles adsorb onto and armor the hyphae, whilst micron-sized particles become physically entangled within the growing network. By printing inoculated, cross-linkable hydrogels via direct ink writing, we spatially confine the mycelial architecture without disrupting growth. We introduce selective particle deposition using a dissolvable gelatin mask, enabling localized functionalization. We explore how the shape morphology evolves as the mycelium grows from the hydrogel scaffold into the media. Incorporation of conductive carbon particles enhances the native bioelectric signaling, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio by 2.7-fold and peak amplitude by 9-fold. Together, these findings establish a growth-programmable living fabricating strategy, where multifunctional materials can self-assemble through the natural expansion of living networks.

Ultrasonic wood welding is an ecofriendly method for rapidly joining wooden components in less than 2 s. However, this dynamic process results in low mechanical performance and poor durability under wet conditions. Inspired by natural wood's robust interlocking cellular structure, which leverages lignin fusion to enhance structural integrity, lignin fusion at wood interfaces is optimized, significantly improving lap shear strength and wet durability. These results demonstrate that enhanced lignin fusion at interfaces is crucial for obtaining strong wood joints by positioning lignin as a sustainable energy concentrator, promoting greener manufacturing of sustainable structures into complex shapes. The joints exhibit lap shear strengths and wet durability comparable to those achieved with water-based wood and epoxy adhesives, while also demonstrating conductivity which could be leveraged for multifunctional features such as strain sensing. The approach can be extended to other manufacturing methods, such as hot-pressing and continuous robotic manufacturing, emphasizing its potential for scalability and broad industrial adoption.

Signaling pathways in fungi offer a profound avenue for harnessing cellular communication and have garnered considerable interest in biomaterial engineering. Fungi respond to environmental stimuli through intricate signaling networks involving biochemical and electrical pathways, yet deciphering these mechanisms remains a challenge. In this review, an overview of fungal biology and their signaling pathways is provided, which can be activated in response to external stimuli and direct fungal growth and orientation. By examining the hyphal structure and the pathways involved in fungal signaling, the current state of recording fungal electrophysiological signals as well as the landscape of fungal biomaterials is explored. Innovative applications are highlighted, from sustainable materials to biomonitoring systems, and an outlook on the future of harnessing fungi signaling in living composites is provided.