Nanotech transforms vinegar into a lifesaving superbug killer

Acetic acid (commonly known as vinegar) has been valued for centuries as a simple, natural disinfectant. However, while it can kill some forms of bacteria, traditional vinegar is largely ineffective against more resilient and dangerous strains that cause chronic infections.

Boosting Vinegar's Power With Nanotechnology

A team of scientists from the University of Bergen in Norway, QIMR Berghofer, and Flinders University in Australia has discovered a way to greatly enhance vinegar's natural antibacterial power. Their method uses antimicrobial nanoparticles made from carbon and cobalt, which amplify vinegar's ability to kill harmful microbes. The findings were recently published in the scientific journal ACS Nano.

Molecular biologists Dr. Adam Truskewycz and Professor Nils Halberg found that when these nanoparticles were combined with weak vinegar, they could destroy several harmful bacterial species far more effectively than vinegar alone.

A New Type of Antimicrobial Treatment

In their experiments, the researchers created a new mixture by adding cobalt-based carbon quantum dot nanoparticles to diluted acetic acid (vinegar). This enhanced solution successfully targeted dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Enterococcus faecalis, all of which are known to cause stubborn or hospital-acquired infections.

Dr. Truskewycz explained that vinegar's natural acidity helps bacterial cells swell, allowing the nanoparticles to penetrate more easily.

"Once exposed, the nanoparticles appear to attack dangerous bacteria from both inside the bacterial cell and also on its surface, causing them to burst. Importantly, this approach is non-toxic to human cells and was shown to remove bacterial infections from mice wounds without affecting healing," he said.

A Potential Breakthrough for Wound Healing and Infection Control

This vinegar-based nanotech treatment could offer a powerful new weapon in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance, which is linked to an estimated 4.5 million infection-related deaths each year. Its ability to safely eliminate bacteria while supporting the body's natural healing process makes it especially promising for chronic wound care.

Professor Halberg noted that the research highlights how nanoparticles can strengthen existing antimicrobial methods.

"Combination treatments such as the ones highlighted in this study may help to curb antimicrobial resistance. Given this issue can kill up to 5 million people each year, it's vital we look to find new ways of killing pathogens like viruses, bacteria and fungi or parasites," he said.