Hydrogen nanobubbles (H2-NBs) are gaining prominence for their ability to deliver high concentrations of hydrogen gas, which acts as a therapeutic agent in biological systems and a combustion enhancer in energy systems.
Biomedical & Livestock: Selective Antioxidant
- Neutralizing Cytotoxic ROS: Molecular hydrogen is established as a selective antioxidant that specifically neutralizes cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as the hydroxyl radical (^\• OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^-), without disturbing physiological signaling ROS. H2-NBs enhance the solubility and residence time of hydrogen in biological fluids, thereby maximizing this therapeutic effect Ohsawa et al., 2007 cited in Yaparatne et al., 2024, 2024, 2024, 2024.
- Livestock/Aquaculture Health: In aquaculture models (e.g., zebrafish), H2-NB water has proven effective as a therapeutic agent against inflammation caused by viral infections, significantly reducing mortality and oxidative stress markers Li et al., 2022 cited in Yaparatne et al., 2024, 2024, 2024, 2024.
Systemic Health: Neuroprotection and Inflammation
- Neuroprotection: Hydrogen has been shown to improve neurological function by attenuating blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in stroke-prone models. It suppresses oxidative stress and prevents the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the central nervous system Takeuchi et al., 2015 cited in Zhao & Cao, 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016.
- Inflammation Modulation: Research indicates that hydrogen-rich water (delivered via NB technologies) protects against neuroinflammation by suppressing the activation of Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-kB) in microglia and inhibiting the development of pathogenic Th17 cells, which are implicated in autoimmune disorders like Multiple Sclerosis Zhao & Cao, 2016; .
Fuel: Stability in Fuel Mixtures
- Long-Term Stability: A critical finding for energy applications is the exceptional stability of H2-NBs in liquid fuels. H2-NBs generated in a gasoline blend remained stable for 121 days without significant changes in bubble size distribution or count, maintaining a high negative zeta potential (approx. -30 mV) which prevents coalescence Oh et al., 2015.
- Combustion Enhancement: The addition of H2-NBs to gasoline and diesel has been shown to improve combustion characteristics, enhancing thermal efficiency and reducing specific fuel consumption due to the high diffusivity and flammability of hydrogen Oh et al., 2013.