An international group of scientists has discovered an innovative way to enhance the antimicrobial properties of vinegar by using microscopic nanoparticles. The new treatment has proven effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, offering a potential alternative in the fight against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
The study, conducted by researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Flinders University (Australia) and the University of Bergen (Norway), was published in the scientific journal ‘ACS Nano’. The researchers combined acetic acid—the main component of vinegar—with cobalt-enriched carbon nanoparticles, creating a solution capable of eliminating pathogenic bacteria that are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics.
Among the microorganisms targeted were species such as Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin (MRSA), Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, all known for their role in persistent and hard-to-treat infections, especially in chronic wounds.
According to Adam Truskewycz, one of the study’s authors, “the acidic environment of vinegar makes bacteria absorb the nanoparticles more readily, which then act both inside the cells and on their surface, causing their destruction.” The research also showed that this approach is not toxic to human cells and does not interfere with the healing process – a finding confirmed through tests conducted in animal models.
The potential of vinegar as a disinfectant is not new: it has been used for centuries to treat wounds. However, its standalone efficacy is limited. The innovation now presented lies in how the scientists managed to amplify this effect by employing nanotechnology.
For Professor Nils Halberg, co-author of the study, this research shows how it is possible “to increase the effectiveness of traditional treatments through nanotechnology,” highlighting that combined solutions like this can play an important role in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance continues to be one of the greatest threats to global public health. It is estimated to be associated with about 4.5 million deaths per year. As antibiotics lose efficacy against bacteria that are increasingly resistant, alternative approaches—such as this—gain relevance.
The researchers now hope to advance to clinical trials and continue exploring the use of nanoparticles in combination with other antimicrobial agents.
