New Weapon Against Superbugs and Viruses Discovered in Simple Metal Oxides and a Common Supplement
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 18, 2025 2 weeks, 6 days, 11 hours, 17 minutes ago
Thailand Medical News: In an exciting breakthrough, researchers from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Helwan University in Egypt have discovered a powerful new way to fight dangerous fungal and viral infections—including COVID-19—by combining common metal nanoparticles with a widely available health supplement called N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Their findings may open new doors to treating drug-resistant microbes and hard-to-kill viruses in hospitals and clinics worldwide.
New Weapon Against Superbugs and Viruses Discovered in Simple Metal Oxides and a Common Supplement
As the world continues to struggle with the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—where common infections no longer respond to traditional drugs—scientists have been racing to find new solutions. This
Thailand Medical News report shines a spotlight on a study that offers promising results using tiny particles of silver, zinc oxide, and magnesium oxide, known as nanoparticles, in combination with NAC, a supplement often used for detoxification and lung health.
The New Antimicrobial Duo That Beats Old Drugs
The team used a simple chemical process to create silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. These particles are so small they can easily interact with bacteria and viruses. When tested against Candida albicans—a fungus that causes life-threatening infections—and two deadly viruses, adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2, the results were striking.
When used alone, silver nanoparticles showed strong antifungal and antiviral activity at very low concentrations. But the real surprise came when they were combined with NAC. This blend made the treatment up to 20 times more effective and also reduced toxicity to human liver cells by up to 20 percent. In practical terms, it means doctors could use much lower doses with fewer side effects.
Attacking Fungi and Viruses on Multiple Fronts
One of the key dangers of Candida albicans is its ability to form biofilms—sticky layers that help it stick to tissues and resist drugs. The researchers found that the nanoparticles could break down these biofilms and damage the cell walls of the fungi, leading to their death. The NAC-nanoparticle combinations also showed impressive effects in lab tests against clinical strains that were resistant to existing antifungal drugs like ketoconazole and fluconazole.
On the antiviral front, plaque assays showed that nanoparticle treatment alone could reduce the ability of adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells by 54% to 90%. But when NAC was added, the infection rates dropped even further—to 100% in some cases. This makes the combination potentially more powerful than standard antiviral drugs like acyclovir, which typically reduce virus activity by around 70–80%.
Safe and Effective on Human Cells
The researchers were cautious about ensuring the treatments wouldn't harm human cells. Using
a liver cell line known as HepG2, they tested the nanoparticles with and without NAC. Near the levels needed to kill fungi and viruses, the human cells remained over 90% viable, and NAC helped increase this safety margin even more.
How It Works
Transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging revealed how the particles destroyed fungi. After treatment, the fungal cells became misshapen, burst open, and spilled their contents. The NAC likely helped weaken the cell defenses and boosted the oxidative stress from the metal particles, leading to a perfect storm that pathogens couldn’t survive.
A Possible New Frontline Treatment
With traditional antifungal and antiviral drugs losing effectiveness, especially in hospitals overwhelmed with resistant strains, this study provides a valuable and accessible alternative. NAC is already widely used and inexpensive. The metals—silver, zinc, and magnesium—are well known and safe in controlled doses. When combined, they could be formulated into sprays, gels, or even pills to fight infections on the skin, in wounds, or even inside the body.
Conclusion
This research offers an innovative and cost-effective strategy to combat both fungal and viral infections. By combining safe metal nanoparticles with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, scientists have significantly boosted antimicrobial activity while reducing toxicity. The results showed up to 20-fold improved effectiveness and even complete viral inhibition in lab settings. As drug resistance rises globally, this discovery could mark a turning point in the fight against pathogens. With further testing and development, this novel combo might soon become a staple in hospitals and clinics, saving lives that conventional treatments cannot.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Bratislava Medical Journal
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44411-025-00223-4
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