背景:真菌生物技术和材料科学这两个科学学科之间合作的最新进展强调了真菌菌丝体作为可持续生物材料的可再生资源的潜力,可以在不同的行业中利用。由于真菌菌丝体可以通过生物技术从不同的丝状真菌中获得,并且是一种非常通用的材料,各自的研究和商业应用应该蓬勃发展。然而,真菌菌丝体基材料领域的一些授权专利在社区中引起了不确定性,即哪些主题受专利保护以及保护预计持续多长时间。
结果:因此,本意见文件绘制了基于真菌菌丝体的材料的专利图景,特别关注技术应用,包括建筑施工,绝缘,包装,等等。我们提供与已授权专利相关的已授权专利(73)和未决申请(34)的概述,占主导地位的专利组合(五个,每个所有者的专利和/或申请数量在6到44之间),专利所有者,并强调为保护发明而制定的关键权利要求。此外,我们概述了增加实地活动的各种选择。
结论:该领域的专利发展给人留下的印象是真菌材料,尽管它们作为可再生和可生物降解的材料具有很高的潜力,由于专利过度保护而受到阻碍。考虑到需要用可再生生物材料取代目前的石油基材料,可能需要协调一致的努力来加强这一领域的努力。
BACKGROUND: Recent advancements in the collaboration between two scientific disciplines-fungal biotechnology and materials sciences-underscore the potential of fungal mycelium as renewable resource for sustainable biomaterials that can be harnessed in different industries. As fungal mycelium can be biotechnologically obtained from different filamentous fungi and is as a material very versatile, respective research and commercial application should be thriving. However, some granted patents in the field of fungal mycelium-based materials have caused uncertainty in the community as to which subject matter is patent-protected and for how long the protection is expected to last.
RESULTS: This opinion paper therefore maps the patent landscape of fungal mycelium-based materials with a specific focus on technical applications including building construction, insulation, packaging, and the like. We provide an overview of granted patents (73) and pending applications (34) related to granted patents, the dominant patent portfolios (five, with the number of patents and/or applications per owner between six and 44), the patent owners, and highlight the key claims formulated to protect the inventions. Additionally, we outline various options towards an increased activity in the field.
CONCLUSIONS: Patent developments in the field leave the impression that fungal materials, despite their high potential as renewable and biodegradable materials, have been held back due to patent over-protection. Considering the need for replacing current petroleum-based materials with renewable biomaterials, coordinated efforts may be called for to intensify efforts in the field.