Whenever “quantum” enters the scene, science can take many unexpected turns. Common cooking ingredients are no exception to this rule—as demonstrated by European researchers investigating the healing power of vinegar.
A recent ACS Nano paper suggests that antimicrobial nanoparticles significantly boost the bacteria-killing abilities of vinegar, formally known as acetic acid. Specifically, the researchers engineered quantum dots—tiny particles controlled by quantum mechanical effects—to target and annihilate bacterial species. These germ-killing nanoparticles flourished in a weak vinegar solution, according to the paper.
Quantum germ killers
Bacterial infections obstruct the body’s natural healing mechanisms, especially for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or people with other underlying conditions. Meanwhile, vinegar has long been used as a non-toxic remedy for disinfecting household surfaces.
The new mixture takes advantage of this feature to create a safe, effective healing mixture, the researchers said. Often, bacterial infections create an alkaline environment around the wounded area, which slows down the healing process. The vinegar counters this tendency by forcing the bacteria into a more acidic environment, according to the paper. This causes the harmful bacteria to swell up, which subsequently makes it easier for the quantum dots to infiltrate and invade the internal structure of the bacteria.
“Once exposed, the nanoparticles appear to attack dangerous bacteria from both inside the bacterial cell and also on its surface, causing them to burst,” explained Adam Truskewycz, study lead author and a molecular biologist at QIMR Berghofer in Australia, in a release.
“Importantly, this approach is non-toxic to human cells and was shown to remove bacterial infections from mice wounds without affecting healing,” he added.
The power of combination treatments
That said, we don’t typically pour vinegar on ourselves to treat stubborn cuts. The researchers are aware of this, too, and suggest that the point of this miraculous vinegar mixture is to use it in tandem with “systemic antibiotics” and “topical antiseptics,” according to the paper. The study also conducted its experiments in mice, so whether the mixture will show similar results for human skin has yet to be proven.
Regardless, the results reflect a bold approach to incorporate quantum dots—a theoretically interesting concept generally limited to semiconductor use—into something that’s very practical, like an advanced disinfectant. It’s also worth noting that, for all our medical advances, millions worldwide die from antimicrobial resistance, or when existing antiseptics can’t completely kill harmful bacteria.
“Combination treatments such as the ones highlighted in this study may help to curb antimicrobial resistance,” Truskewycz said. “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, fungi, and parasites.”