Benefits and applications of using ozone nanobubbles in water for human health

27 de julio de 2026

Ozone (O₃) is a powerful oxidizing agent with recognized antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses [1] . Ozone nanobubble technology ( nanobubbles less than 100 nm in diameter) has overcome one of the main limitations of ozone in water: its short half-life (approximately 20 minutes). Nanobubbles remain stable in solution for more than 6 months when protected from ultraviolet light, maintaining their oxidizing capacity [1,4] . This makes them a promising tool for various therapeutic applications in human health.

In this context, YamatoAqua is bringing micro- and nanobubble ozone technology to everyday devices that, through a low-voltage electrolysis system, transform drinking water into ozonated water at the moment of use. Products such as Ozone Mouthwash Pro, Ozone Water Flosser, and Ozone Spray Pro have been developed for oral hygiene, irrigation, and external disinfection, facilitating the practical use of ozone's antimicrobial and deodorizing properties without the need for conventional chemical disinfectants.

1. Oral health, bad breath (halitosis) and control of oral bacteria

One of the most relevant findings regarding ozone nanobubbles (NBW3) is their potent bactericidal activity against periodontal pathogens. In an in vitro study , Hayakumo et al. demonstrated that exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter Exposure of actinomycetemcomitans (key bacteria in periodontitis and bad breath) to water with ozone nanobubbles reduced the number of colony-forming units (CFU) to less than 10 CFU/ mL after only 30 seconds of exposure [1] This effect was equivalent to or greater than that of 0.2% chlorhexidine, the reference oral antiseptic. Notably, ozone nanobubble water showed no significant cytotoxicity in three-dimensional models of human oral and gingival tissue, with ET₅₀ values (time to reduce cell viability by 50%) greater than 24 hours, indicating excellent biocompatibility [1] .

ozone nanobubble water has also shown effectiveness in the treatment of pustulosis Palmoplantar periodontitis (PPP), an inflammatory skin disease related to oral bacteria. In a clinical case series, 6 of 7 patients with PPP experienced complete healing of skin lesions after rinsing their mouths daily with ozone nanobubble water for 3 to 4 months [2] . These results suggest that controlling periodontal bacteria with ozone nanobubbles may have beneficial systemic effects.

Furthermore, ozonated water (at concentrations of 0.667 mg/L) has been shown to completely eliminate planktonic cells of Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. coli and Streptococcus mutans after only 5 minutes of exposure, and significantly reduce the microbial load in biofilms formed on acrylic resin and stainless steel, as well as on contaminated toothbrushes [9] . These findings support its use for the control of bad breath of bacterial origin and the disinfection of oral devices.

2. Skin care and treatment of dermatological diseases

Atopic dermatitis

Ozonated water has demonstrated a dual bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect in animal models of atopic dermatitis (AD). Kaneki et al. found that daily topical application of ozonated water (3 and 11 mg/L) significantly reduced the clinical AD score, ear thickness, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in mice [5] . The treatment improved skin barrier function, as evidenced by increased expression of filaggrin , a key protein in the formation of the stratum corneum. Furthermore, significant suppression of the local immune response was observed, including a reduction in dendritic cells, memory helper T lymphocytes , IgE-positive B lymphocytes, and the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-13, IL-17, and TNF-α [5] . The study confirmed that ozonated water inhibits the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (CCL2, IL-6, IL-8 and TARC) by stimulated human keratinocytes, demonstrating a direct anti-inflammatory effect beyond its bactericidal action [5] .

Wound healing

Ozone therapy has shown significant potential for accelerating wound healing. Borges et al. demonstrated that ozone (up to 8 µg/ mL ) did not exhibit cytotoxicity in fibroblasts (L929) or keratinocytes (HaCaT), unlike 0.2% chlorhexidine, which markedly reduced cell viability [6] . In particular, ozone at 8 µg/ mL increased fibroblast migration threefold compared to the control in transwell migration assays , a key finding for granulation tissue formation during healing [6] . The combination of ozone with chlorhexidine enhanced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans , showing a synergistic effect [6] .

Antibiotic-resistant skin infections

Ozone therapy has shown promise in antibiotic-resistant infections. Franzini et al. reported that oxygen-ozone therapy (via autohemotherapy) ozone (larger and subcutaneous infiltrations) achieved disinfection and healing of infected tissues in patients with multi-antibiotic resistant infections, including infected prostheses, osteomyelitis, and fistulas [8] . Ozone does not produce microbial resistance and acts by oxidizing the components of cell membranes, a different mechanism than that of conventional antibiotics [8] .

Ozonated oils for skin ulcers

Ozonized oils (such as ozonized sesame oil) represent an effective and economical alternative for the treatment of ulcers and skin infections. Topical application of ozonized oil eliminates infection and promotes rapid healing. However, prior wound cleansing is essential to remove exudates and serum protein residues that can neutralize ozone derivatives [10] . The mechanism of action involves the slow decomposition of 1,2,4-trioxolanes present in the ozonized oil, generating local oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid oxidation products that stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinoblasts. [10] .

3. Digestive health, stomach problems and intestinal dysbiosis

Intestinal dysbiosis

Intestinal dysbiosis (an imbalance in the gut microbiota) affects a growing number of people and is associated with symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, constipation alternating with diarrhea, halitosis, headaches, chronic fatigue, and allergies. Loprete and Vaiano evaluated the treatment of 34 patients with intestinal dysbiosis using a combination of oral hyperozonated water (3 glasses of 125 mL per day) and rectal insufflation of an oxygen-ozone mixture (40 µg/ mL , 250 mL per session, 3 times per week) for 90 days [11] . The results showed a statistically significant improvement in symptoms such as constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain, gastralgia, and chronic fatigue from the first evaluation (45 days), with an even more marked improvement at 90 days [11] . The authors concluded that this synergy of approaches can be considered a fundamental method in the treatment of intestinal dysbiosis, especially in patients resistant to other treatments [11] .

Effect of ozone on the colonic epithelium

A pivotal study on the mechanism of action of ozone in the colon revealed unexpected and promising findings. Himuro and colleagues investigated the effect of intrarectal ozone administration (20 µg/ mL ) in mice and found that, although ozone temporarily inhibits DNA replication pathways and the cell cycle in colonic epithelial cells, it does not cause lethal damage. [12] Conversely, rapid extrusion of damaged epithelial cells was observed (within approximately 6 hours), followed by rapid recovery of the epithelial layer (within 72 hours), with no signs of lethal inflammation [12] . The authors propose that this accelerated turnover of epithelial cells, combined with the potent bactericidal effect of ozone on enteric bacteria, could be beneficial for treating resistant infectious colitis (including that caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Clostridium). difficile ) and possibly inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, by strengthening the epithelial barrier function [12] .

4. General microbial control and safety

Ozonated water has demonstrated broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis ), Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) and fungi such as Candida albicans [3] Santos et al. demonstrated that ozone concentrations of 0.6 to 0.8 ppm in water are sufficient to achieve a significant reduction (>95-100%) in microbial viability after only 1 minute of exposure [3] . Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the mechanism of action involves cell wall lysis and osmotic destabilization of microorganisms [3] .

Regarding safety , multiple studies confirm that ozonated water does not exhibit cytotoxic effects on mammalian cells. In both human ear fibroblasts ( Hfib ) and cell lines of keratinocytes (HaCaT) and murine fibroblasts (L929), cells exposed to ozonated water showed 100% cell viability, with no significant differences compared to the control group [3,6] . This is attributed to the complex antioxidant systems of eukaryotic cells, which include antioxidant enzymes and hydro- and liposoluble compounds that protect against oxidative damage [3] .

Furthermore, ozone nanobubbles offer significant technical advantages: they increase the retention time of ozone in water (from hours to months), increase the contact surface area (the same amount of gas in 100 nm nanobubbles generates 3925 m² of surface area, compared to 0.0785 m² of 5 mm bubbles), and improve the diffusion and concentration of ozone in water [4] . This allows its use even as a residual disinfectant in drinking water, with significant cost savings (up to 4 times less ozone required compared to conventional diffusers) [4] .

5. Applications in aesthetic dentistry and beauty

In dentistry, ozone in its different forms (gas, ozonated water, ozonated oil) is used in restorative dentistry, endodontics, surgery, and prosthodontics for its antimicrobial, immunostimulatory, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties [7] . Ozonated water as a mouthwash has been shown to significantly reduce Streptococcus counts. ozonated water is even more effective than chlorhexidine in eliminating mutans (cariogenic bacteria) [7,9] . For the disinfection of dental prostheses and orthodontic appliances, ozonated water represents a non- toxic alternative to conventional chemicals [9] . In oral surgery, ozone accelerates tissue regeneration and reduces postoperative pain. [7] . Ozonated oil has also been used successfully to treat traumatic ulcers caused by dentures, reducing the size of the ulcer and the pain, and accelerating tissue regeneration [7] .

Conclusion

Ozone nanobubble technology in water represents a versatile, safe and effective therapeutic tool with applications in multiple areas of human health:

Oral health : Rapid elimination of periodontal bacteria that cause bad breath and periodontal disease, without cytotoxicity [1,2,7,9] .
Skin care : Improvement of atopic dermatitis, acceleration of wound healing and treatment of antibiotic-resistant skin infections [5,6,8,10] .
Digestive health : Restoration of intestinal flora balance in dysbiosis, and potential benefit in infectious and inflammatory colitis through induced epithelial turnover and bactericidal action [11,12] .
Aesthetics and beauty : Improved skin appearance, acne control and scalp revitalization.

The main advantage of ozone nanobubbles over conventional ozonated water is their prolonged stability (more than 6 months), which allows for their storage, bottling, and use as a ready-to-use disinfectant solution [1,4] . Ozone does not generate microbial resistance, is biocompatible with human cells, and decomposes into harmless oxygen after exerting its oxidizing action [4,8] . Future research should optimize concentrations and application protocols for each specific condition, as well as explore new applications in other areas of medicine.

Within this field, YamatoAqua transforms these technological advancements into practical solutions for everyday care. The Ozone Mouthwash Pro and Ozone Water Flosser generate ozonated water to support oral hygiene and cleaning hard-to-reach areas, while the Ozone Spray Pro is designed for external application to the skin and surface hygiene. Its portable format and on-demand ozonated water generation allow the use of potable water as a raw material, reducing the need for additional chemical solutions.

Thus, YamatoAqua products represent a concrete application of ozone micro- and nanobubble technology for oral hygiene, irrigation, and external care. They should be used as a complement to regular hygiene practices and never as a substitute for dental or medical care. The water produced by these devices is not intended for daily consumption and should not be directly associated with the digestive benefits described in the presented studies, which employed their own methods, concentrations, and clinical protocols. Future research will allow for a more precise differentiation of the therapeutic, preventive, and hygiene benefits of this innovative technology.