Researchers from the University of Georgia have created a novel hand sanitizer that eradicates over 97% of bacteria and fungi, including strains resistant to antibiotics. This new gel offers a solution to conventional, drying alcohol-based sanitizers.

The gel composition, named NORel, significantly surpassed an alcohol-based sanitizer by preserving its effective antimicrobial properties for up to two hours post-application. By that time, the alcohol-based sanitizers tested by the researchers had fully evaporated, along with their antimicrobial agents. Standard hand sanitizers dissipate shortly after being applied and lose a considerable amount of their germicidal efficacy within 30 to 60 minutes.

NORel’s promise as a durable, effective hand hygiene solution is especially notable in high-risk settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.

This innovative gel utilizes the disinfectant properties of nitric oxide, a molecule that occurs naturally in the body and is essential in combatting infections.

“Standard hand sanitizers containing alcohol perform quite well in eliminating bacteria upon initial application,” stated Elizabeth Brisbois, the lead author of the study and an associate professor in the UGA College of Engineering. “We demonstrated that nitric oxide remains on the skin longer, providing an extended protective effect. That was the most thrilling outcome.”

New gel sanitizer matches the efficacy of current alcohol-based options

Enhanced with antimicrobial and moisturizing components such as ethanol, tea tree oil, and glycerin, NORel gel capitalizes on the demonstrated antimicrobial advantages of nitric oxide in other dermatological contexts, including wound healing and acne management.

“We began contemplating the specific ingredients that make up conventional hand sanitizers,” Brisbois mentioned, “and how we could integrate nitric oxide into a standard hand sanitizer formulation.”

Similar to other NO applications explored by Brisbois and her team, this formula shows promise for use as a hand sanitizer in healthcare environments, helping to avert associated infections for both healthcare providers and their patients.

The antimicrobial efficacy of this gel is comparable to that of commercial, alcohol-based sanitizers containing 62% ethyl alcohol.

What’s next? Testing this gel against pathogens like COVID-19, which brought the world to a standstill in 2020, along with extending the gel’s shelf life.

“In this initial project, we concentrated on developing the hand sanitizer and assessing its effectiveness against bacteria typically linked to medical device infections,” Brisbois stated. “Further research aimed at improving the formulation chemistry and evaluating its efficiency against other infectious agents, including viruses and various fungi, as well as enhancing its stability at room temperature, would greatly advance this technology.”

Featured in Biomaterials Science, the study was co-authored by Manjyot Kaur Chug, Gabrielle Aluisio, Cole Bousquet, Mark Garren, Yun Qian, and Joseph H. Campbell. It received funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

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