ELM

synopsis

ELM (Engineered Living Materials) is a research initiative exploring materials that are grown, not manufactured. By harnessing biological processes — mycelial networks, bacterial cellulose synthesis, and biofilm self-assembly — ELM develops adaptive materials that can sense, respond to, and integrate with their environment. These living substrates serve as the foundation for a new generation of wellness products, bioactive delivery systems, and responsive architectural surfaces.

The project sits at the convergence of synthetic biology, materials science, and computational design. ELM leverages generative models to predict material properties from organism genotype and growth conditions, enabling rapid prototyping of living composites with targeted mechanical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Wellness applications focus on bioactive compound production, controlled-release matrices, and skin-interfacing living membranes.

key capabilities

• Mycelial composite growth — tunable density, strength, and porosity
• Bacterial cellulose synthesis for bioactive delivery substrates
• Biofilm self-assembly with programmable surface properties
• Computational genotype-to-material property prediction
• Controlled-release matrices for bioactive compound delivery
• Living membrane interfaces for skin-contact wellness applications
• Environmental responsiveness — materials that adapt to humidity, temperature, and pH

related research

• AMBU: Distributed Biomanufacturing (shared cultivation infrastructure)
• Agentic Infrastructure (computational design pipeline)

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