Аннотация:The use of mycelial scaffolds in bioengineering is an innovative approach that is based on fungi ability to steadily produce branching thread-like hyphae (mycelium) yielding fibrous mass structurally resembling the natural extracellular matrix of soft mammalian tissues or artificial non-woven materials. The hyphae produced by the hymenophore cells have the ability of unlimited apical growth and contain a wide range of organic components includingpolysaccharides (mannans, glucans, cellulose, and chitin), proteins, lipids, glycoproteins,phospholipids, ergosterols and glycogen. By culturing hymenophore cells of several Basi-diomycota species (10 ml of hymenophore inoculate in 50 ml of glucose-peptone medium)we have obtained self-organizing multilayered mycelial mats that have the ability to occupythe entire surface/volume of the culture container thus providing a possibility to obtain scaffolds of any desired size and shape. The diameter of the fibers (hyphae) forming the scaffolds varied from 0.1 to 20 mm. The overall thickness of the resulting mats ranged from 250 mm to 2.5 mm and can be regulated by the duration of cultivation. Generation of smooth and even 2mm thick mycelial scaffolds by Trametes hirsuta and Trametes rubius hyphae required 5 days of cultivation while thickness of 3mm was achieved in 10 days. For stabilization the mats were fixed in isopropanol for 30 min. Mechanical parameters of obtainedmaterials correspond well to those of decellularized skin: tensile strength 0.06-0.12 mPa,strain at break 17-28 %, Young’s modulus 0.5-1.0 MPa. Biocompatibility testing showed that mycelial scaffolds fully support the viability and functionality of both human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. The hydroxyl, carboxyl and amide groups of polysaccharides, lipids and proteins of fungal cell wall provided perfect substrate for adequate adhesion of these cells. All these features together with low cost and non-mammalian origin provide a high potential for mycelial scaffolds to be used in skin bioengineering.