Particle-based SERS sensing of bacterial spores in milk
SporeSpotter project aims to develop an advanced bacterial spore detection platform for the dairy industry. Bacterial spores pose serious health and economic risks such as from Clostridium Tyrobutyricum and Bacillus Cereus species. These spores can survive standard pasteurization processes and lead to contamination in dairy products. The related late blowing defect caused by these spores can affect up to 10-25% of hard cheese production, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to millions of euros annually.
Our proposed solution integrates particle-based selection, magnetic enrichment and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technology to detect Clostridium Tyrobutyricum spores in milk samples. This innovative approach promises a fast, simple, and accurate method for identifying low concentrations of bacterial spores, reducing detection times from days to hours.
We will develop a proof-of-concept sensing technology that can potentially detect bacterial spore levels down to 102 CFU/ml in real milk samples, improving safety and efficiency in the dairy industry. This project is critical to meet the growing demand for rapid testing solutions in the food sector while ensuring compliance with stringent European regulations on food safety. The technology potentially could be extended to broad industrial applications in healthcare and environmental monitoring.
Project duration:
Spring 2025/2026 (Feb – July)
Internship or graduation project:
Open for internship or graduation project
Educational programs:
- Biology and Medical Lab (BML) (Core task Research or Innovation)
Interested? Please send your motivation letter and CV before the 23th of November 2025 to appliednanotechnology.led@saxion.nl and include Aurel Ymeti (a.ymeti@saxion.nl) in the CC.