Fungal-Derived Biopolymers: Chitin, Chitosan, and Bioplastics for a Post-Petroleum Economy

Fungi provide renewable sources of chitin, chitosan, glucans, melanins, proteins, and other polymers with applications in packaging, agriculture, water treatment, biomedicine, cosmetics, and coatings. Fungal biomass can offer advantages over crustacean-derived materials, including year-round production, reduced allergen and mineral content, controllable composition, and compatibility with fermentation-based manufacturing. Recent work has explored fungal chitin extraction, enzymatic deacetylation, nanochitin, chitosan films, composite materials, biodegradable packaging, antimicrobial coatings, and fungal production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and other bio-based polymers. Advances in metabolic engineering, low-chemical extraction, membrane separation, and valorization of fermentation residues are expanding the range of possible products.However, significant barriers remain before fungal polymers can compete consistently with petrochemical materials or established biopolymer sources. Polymer molecular weight, degree of acetylation, crystallinity, branching, purity, and functional-group distribution vary with species, substrate, and processing conditions. These parameters strongly influence mechanical strength, barrier properties, biodegradation, and biological activity, yet standardized characterization and performance benchmarks are not widely adopted. Solvent use, energy requirements, downstream costs, and the environmental impacts of extraction also require closer evaluation. The field needs integrated research linking fungal physiology and polymer chemistry with application-specific material design. This Research Topic will address these challenges and support the development of scalable, safe, and circular fungal polymer technologies.This Research Topic aims to connect fungal biotechnology, polymer chemistry, materials engineering, and industrial ecology to advance fungal-derived polymers from biomass recovery and laboratory formulations toward validated applications.To gather further insights in fungal polymer production, extraction, modification, formulation, and application, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Fungal chitin, chitosan, glucans, melanins, and related polymersFungal production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and other bioplasticsLow-impact extraction, deacetylation, purification, and fractionationNanochitin, nanocomposites, films, hydrogels, coatings, and foamsPackaging, agriculture, water treatment, biomedical, cosmetic, and textile applicationsPolymer characterization, structure–function relationships, and biodegradationEnzymatic, chemical, and microbial polymer modificationToxicology, regulatory assessment, life-cycle analysis, and scale-upThis topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Methods, Perspectives, Systematic Reviews, Opinions, and Case Reports. Topic editors: Tarek Rouissi, Moncef Chouaibi, Mohammed Amirul Islam Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84681/fungal-derived-biopolymers-chitin-chitosan-and-bioplastics-for-a-post-petroleum-economy