Mycoponically Integrated Network Device for Multimodal Sensing with Living Mycelial Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces MIND, a novel biophysical interface that enables living mycelial networks to function as self-repairing, multimodal biosensors with standardized electrodes and long-term operation.

Contribution

The work presents MIND, an integrated platform combining antimicrobial nutrient delivery with electrophysiology, allowing long-term, multimodal sensing with living mycelium.

Findings

MIND sustains mycelium for over 11 months.

The device distinguishes 14 stimulus classes.

Electrophysiological responses follow Hill-type calibration functions.

Abstract

Living mycelial filaments integrate chemical, optical, mechanical, thermal, and biological information via electrophysiological cellular trans-membrane potential. The challenge is to create a mycology interface that sustains metabolism, standardizes electrode geometry, and tolerates mechanical damage. Using mycoponics we overcome these factors that limited prior demonstrations to single modalities, and operational windows of days to weeks. We present MIND, an engineered biophysical interface integrating antimicrobial nutrient delivery (ceramic size exclusion) with non-invasive electrophysiology, in cylindrical (MINDTube) and planar (MINDPixel) form-factors. The platform sustains colonized \textit{Pleurotus ostreatus} mycelium beyond 11 months and distinguishes 14 stimulus classes from a single unmodified device. Steady-state intensity responses follow Hill-type calibration functions across five phylogenetically diverse fungi grown on the identical interface, making strain selection a tunable design parameter. Multichannel decoding from the standardized electrode geometry recovers stimulus duration, location, and trajectory. Continuous nutrition provided by mycoponics recovered complete electrophysiological function within 72 h after mechanical excision. MIND converts living mycelium networks into universal, self-repairing, biosensors.