Hydrogen Nanobubble Water Showed Antimicrobial Activity in Lab Tests
Generation and Application of Ultra-Fine, Long-Term Stable Nanobubble Water: An Evaluation of Inclusion Effects on Aromatic Components and Antimicrobial Activity
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Shin Shimizu, Mikiko Tanaka, Nanami Tominaga, Katsuyuki Fujinami, Keita Takanashi, Katsuaki Dan
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Year
- 2026
- PMID
- 42589563
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 0 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Ultra-fine hydrogen- and ozone-containing bubble waters showed long-lasting antibacterial activity, with ozone formulations remaining effective even at very low concentrations.
Key Finding
Hydrogen and ozone nanobubble waters maintained measurable antibacterial activity for 24 weeks, with ozone nanobubble water remaining effective even at a 1% dilution.
Summary
This study examined a new method for creating ultra-fine bubble water containing hydrogen or ozone gas, where the bubbles remain stable in water for very long periods. Researchers tested whether these nanobubble waters could trap aromatic compounds and fight bacteria over time. They found that both hydrogen and ozone nanobubble waters showed mild ability to encapsulate scent compounds and maintained antibacterial effects for up to 24 weeks. The study also noted that this nanobubble water has been used in a clinical setting as a carrier liquid for fecal microbiota transplantation (a procedure that transfers gut bacteria from a healthy donor to a patient) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage laboratory study suggests that the way hydrogen water is produced matters significantly — many commercial products may contain only large, unstable bubbles that behave like ordinary water. The antimicrobial findings are preliminary and were tested in lab conditions, not in humans, so they should not be interpreted as health guidance for consumers drinking hydrogen water.
Abstract (excerpt)
Nano- and pico-bubble water (NPB), containing hydrogen or ozone, is widely used as a cleaning agent due to its bactericidal and antiviral properties. However, some products-such as certain hydrogen waters-contain only large bubbles or have an extremely low bubble count, making them sometimes…