Can we consider Bacillus subtilis spores as ellipsoid polystyrene particles?

Spores, resilient dormant cells with size and shape akin to colloidal particles, hold promise as unique natural particles. Their ability to endure harsh environments offering exceptional tolerance for various manufacturing processes. Compared to traditional colloidal particles, spores can become active cells in favorable conditions, introducing dynamism to the system. While bacterial spores have found applications in biotechnology, their potential in constructing living materials has only been explored through embedding spores as additives—not as foundational building blocks. We aim to fill this gap by investigating the feasibility of harnessing Bacillus subtilis spores as building blocks for living materials. A key question is whether bacterial spores can be treated as traditional passive particles, and to what extent.

Our research focuses on understanding the colloidal behaviour of bacterial spores through diverse characterization techniques.
We are seeking a motivated MSc student interested in answering the question. Your work will focus on characterizing ellipsoid polystyrene particles as analogues to Bacillus subtilis spores.

Core responsibilities include:

• Zeta potential measurement
• Turbiscan measurement
• Microscopy
• Contact angle measurement at the oil-water interface
• Self-assembly at the oil-water interface and image analysis
• Measuring the hardness of Bacillus subtilis spores using Atomic Force Microscopy (based on time availability)

This project will provide you hands-on experience with essential particle characterization techniques. You will have the opportunity to start immediately or upon agreement.
Interested? Feel free to contact Yiyao Hu at for more details.