Food, water, and medical production all require reliable control of bacterial contamination. Yet identifying a specific bacterium can take days, creating delays in production, equipment use and product release. Faster identification can give manufacturers and other users information about contamination while work is still taking place at the site.

NanoStruct is a deep-tech company developing rapid analysis technology for identifying pathogenic bacteria and other contaminants. Founded at the University of Würzburg, the company has developed nanostructured sensor technology that uses optical measurement, biotechnology and machine learning to identify bacterial contamination faster than conventional testing. NanoStruct's portable analysis solution is designed for applications in food production, water monitoring and medical technology, where identifying contamination close to its source can help users respond sooner.

Detecting Bacteria at the Source

NanoStruct’s technology is designed to identify bacteria directly where contamination occurs. The system can differentiate between bacterial species and provide identification within minutes, replacing processes that can take much longer. Automated analysis also removes the need for users to handle every stage of the identification process manually.

Portability allows the system to be used outside a traditional laboratory setting. Food manufacturers can use rapid identification to examine potential contamination involving pathogens such as Listeria and Salmonella. In water applications, on-site identification can help locate sources of unwanted bacteria and other contaminants without waiting for lengthy laboratory analysis.

Applications Across Food and Water

Food production is one of the main areas where rapid bacterial identification can make a difference. Listeria and Salmonella can cause serious illness, while conventional identification processes can take up to a week. During that period, production may be delayed, equipment can remain unused, and products may need to be quarantined. Faster identification gives manufacturers information sooner so they can respond to contamination without waiting for a lengthy identification process.

Water monitoring presents another application. Pathogenic bacteria and other contaminants can accumulate in water and may create health and environmental concerns. NanoStruct’s technology is designed to identify bacteria on-site within minutes, helping users trace unwanted contamination back to potential sources. The same type of rapid testing can also provide information for ongoing monitoring of water quality.

Medical Technology and Hygiene

Medical technology applications require strict control of bacterial contamination. Production and processing areas need to maintain hygienic conditions, while regular monitoring can be required to verify that contamination remains under control. Long identification times can make it difficult to determine whether bacteria are present during an active production or cleaning process.

NanoStruct’s rapid identification technology can provide information about bacterial contamination while cleaning and hygiene measures are being carried out. Identifying bacteria within minutes can allow users to check affected areas sooner and assess whether cleaning measures have addressed contamination. The portable system also provides an option for testing closer to where contamination may occur rather than relying only on external laboratory analysis.

Nanotechnology for Rapid Analysis

NanoStruct’s technology is based on nanotechnology designed for the identification of bacteria and other substances. Automated data analysis is built into a portable tool, while the identification process is designed to distinguish different bacterial species and contaminants. The company also describes applications beyond bacteria, including pollutants, plastic particles and PFAS.

NanoStruct brings together physicists, engineers, biologists, software developers and economists, alongside experienced entrepreneurs and researchers. The interdisciplinary group works on making rapid identification available where contamination occurs, giving users faster information about food, water and working environments. NanoStruct’s technology enables the identification of harmful bacteria and other substances within minutes, helping users obtain timely information when contamination needs to be assessed.

ABOUT | DR. HENRIETTE MAAß

Dr. Henriette Maaß, co-founder, is the CEO of NanoStruct GmbH, a Würzburg-based nanotechnology company developing rapid analysis solutions for detecting harmful bacteria and contaminants. She began the NanoStruct project at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in 2019, which led to the founding of NanoStruct GmbH in 2021.

Maaß is a physicist who earned her doctorate from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg in 2017 for research in spin-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. After completing her doctorate, she worked at SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG on thin-film systems for the semiconductor industry before starting the NanoStruct project. Her scientific work has received several awards, including the Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen Science Award and a joint doctoral prize from the University of Würzburg and the Unterfränkische Gedenkjahrstiftung. In 2024, she was recognized as a role-model entrepreneur by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.