AUC Research Team Develops NanoGuard: A Disinfectant For Long Protection Against Germs

A team of researchers from the American University in Cairo (AUC) developed a groundbreaking long-term disinfectant. The new formula, NanoGuard, offers an innovative solution to microbial contamination on frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, stair rails, and elevator buttons, by providing sustained protection without frequent reapplication. The NanoGuard team is led by Distinguished Professor Hassan Azzazy in the Department of Chemistry and includes chemistry graduate student Saif El-Din Al-Mofty, Obaydah Abd Alkader Alabrahim (MSc ’24) and Jude Majed Lababidi, a nanotechnology master’s student at AUC. The researchers obtained a patent from the United States Patent & Trade Office to protect their intellectual property, and they are currently looking to connect with international manufacturers for possible licensing agreements to produce and later market NanoGuard.

NanoGuard stands out in the market due to its unique ability to remain active against microbes for extended periods without requiring specialized equipment or training for application. "We designed a new disinfectant that can be easily applied to surfaces and remain active against microbes for at least two weeks," said Azzazy, highlighting the ease of use and durability of NanoGuard. This new formula fills a critical gap in available disinfectants. "Most commercial disinfectants are short-term and require repeated application while existing long-term disinfectants are expensive and require facility evacuation as well as specialists to apply them,” explained Azzazy.

Over one year, the team developed a prototype of the disinfectant, first selecting the short-term chemical that would kill the germs upon contact and later choosing the long-term chemical. Next, they sought a method to encapsulate the two selected chemicals within nanovesicles and tested the shelf life and stability of the formula during storage. “Once we found the formulation that was stable, clean, and easy to apply on surfaces, we proceeded to the next phase of making the product user-friendly,” Al-Mofty explained. He expressed his hopes for NanoGuard’s impact: "My hope is for NanoGuard to become trusted, well-recognized, and capable of protecting homes, universities, and families from future pandemics."

In recognition of its innovative design, the NanoGuard team has also been named a finalist for the 2024 Johns Hopkins International Healthcare Design Competition. Their research was initially published in Nanoscale Advances under the title "A novel long-acting antimicrobial nanomicelle spray."