Can we consider Bacillus subtilis spores as ellipsoid polystyrene particles?

• ETH Zurich
• Interfaces, Soft matter and Assembly

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.

• Biomaterials, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Materials Engineering
• Internship, Semester Project, Summer School