Materials have always driven human progress, but modern industries increasingly require adaptability, functionality and sustainability. As urbanization and climate change expose the limits of conventional materials, researchers are exploring new approaches that integrate living systems into material design. Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) combine living cells with structural components, enabling properties such as self-repair, adaptation and environmental responsiveness.

In the project STAR (Space Testing for Advanced Resilience of Engineered Living Materials), researchers study how ELMs respond to the extreme conditions of space. Microgravity, radiation, temperature fluctuations and nutrient scarcity can affect DNA and disrupt metabolic functions, making space a unique environment for understanding how living and engineered systems react under stress.

The research focuses on fungal biofilms and their ability to evolve and self-heal. By examining these biological processes, researchers explore how fungal adaptation mechanisms could help engineered living materials maintain functionality in challenging conditions. This work also improves understanding of how biological strategies can be integrated into material systems.

Researchers further investigate how exposure to space conditions could support the development of bio-based, self-repairing coatings with potential applications in architecture and materials science. By combining microbiology and engineering, the research contributes to knowledge on integrating living systems into advanced material technologies.

STAR runs from 1 May 2026 to 31 October 2027. It is coordinated by UP IAM and led by Dr. Anna Sandak. The research is funded by ERC POC Potencial and the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS).

Through this work, researchers aim to improve understanding of how Engineered Living Materials perform in demanding environments and how these insights can contribute to more resilient and sustainable construction solutions on Earth and in space.

Authors: Dr. Anna Sandak, Dr. Lea Primožič, Lara Prah