Hydra

What it does

Hydra is a modular bioreactor that grows 3D materials using bacteria. It integrates microbial growth with advanced manufacturing to produce biodegradable, high-performance products, like wound dressings, bio-textiles, among others, using waste as feedstock.

Your inspiration

What if materials could grow instead of being made? Hydra emerged from a fundamental disconnect: the promise of living materials and the lack of tools to shape them at scale. Most biodesign never leave the lab, blocked by industrial limitation. We were inspired to build a system that enables, not restricts. We were especially driven by the waste crisis in industries like wound care and textiles, where petroleum-based products are discarded daily. The textile industry alone generates 92M tonnes of mostly unrecyclable waste each year. Hydra offers a path toward sustainable, high-performance, low-energy materials grown from waste.

How it works

Hydra is a versatile biomanufacturing platform that merges bioreactor functionalities with advanced manufacturing to grow materials in complex 3D forms. It uses five methods, including internal/external rotation, tidal growth, and bacterial welding, to grow around custom molds. Features: • Adaptable – Supports different microbes by controlling temperature, humidity, and pH. • Deployable – Portable and operable in labs, remote sites, or post-crisis zones. • Modular – Easily reconfigured by scientists, designers, and industry. • Scalable – Bridges lab scale use with industrial production. Applications: • Wound Care – Grows breathable, antibacterial bandages and wraps; early tests show up to 75% faster healing. • Circular Textiles – Reinforces bacterial cellulose with shredded cotton waste to create high-performance, recyclable bio-leathers. • Footwear & Product Design – Produces seamless, form-grown objects, no cutting, stitching, or gluing required.

Design process

Hydra was developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration at the Royal College of Art, combining design, biotechnology, and materials science. We began with user and expert interviews, engaging over 15 experts, researchers, and industry leaders to identify bottlenecks in current biomaterial production. Early expert feedback suggested 3D growth was unfeasible due to microbial reliance on the air-liquid interface. Initial failed prototypes, including breathable molds and mist-based environments, led to a breakthrough: dynamic fermentation through motion, which enhanced nutrient uptake and accelerated growth. We explored 3D growth feasibility using bacterial cellulose and other fermented materials in varied flow environments. Multiple iterations followed, introducing Arduino-controlled movement, heating systems, contamination prevention using HEPA filters, UV light for sterilisation, and modular mold configurations. Hydra evolved not just as a machine, but as a versatile platform, shaped through iterative prototyping, expert feedback, and real-world application testing across wound care, textile development, and circular material innovation.

How it is different

Growing materials in 3D is a breakthrough that redefines what biomanufacturing can achieve. While most systems are limited to flat sheets, Hydra cultivates complete, seamless 3D forms, eliminating cutting, stitching, and waste. It’s the first modular system to integrate microbial growth with five distinct forming methods, enabling the production of 3D materials faster, cleaner, and with far less waste than traditional processes. Its adaptability supports multiple organisms and input materials including bacteria, fungi, and functionalised organisms, while its low-energy process runs on organic agroindustrial waste. Unlike lab-bound bioreactors, Hydra is modular, scalable, and deployable, designed for scientists, designers, and industry alike. It doesn’t just grow materials; it grows systems, possibilities, and a more circular material future.

Future plans

Hydra spans industries. With TRL 3 achieved, we’re refining the technology and exploring uses in wound care, fashion, artificial skin, implants, automotive interiors, and single-use packaging. What it enables is more important than what it does: a shift from static design to generative systems, merging microbial intelligence with design thinking. We aim to commercialise Hydra as a lab bioreactor and licensable platform. It is now being developed further at the RCA and seeking next-phase funding. Long term, we envision decentralised “living factories” that grow regenerative materials on demand, powered by waste and guided by biology.

Awards

2024 Prototypes for Humanity, Future Solutions - Finalist 2024 Hyundai Design Awards for Sustainability and Creative Practice - Finalist