nanoe™: Collaboration with Academia Demonstrates Improved Concentration and Suppression of Pollen Allergy Symptoms

Panasonic Corporation has been researching and developing proprietary nanoe™ (hydroxyl radicals contained in water) technology for many years. To date, its effects have primarily been verified in relation to “things,” such as the suppression of viruses and bacteria. However, this technology has now entered a new phase that more broadly captures its direct effects on “people.” This article takes a look at the findings of two recently announced studies to explore new levels of value that Panasonic hopes to realize through the use of nanoe™ technology.

nanoe™ is a proprietary technology developed by Panasonic to improve air quality; it consists of nano-sized ions containing large quantities of hydroxyl radicals (highly reactive components) that are highly reactive to harmful substances. Due to their high reactivity, hydroxyl radicals are generally short-lived. However, it has been verified that hydroxyl radicals contained in water live much longer. As a result, they spread much farther in a space, reaching every corner of a room and having a greater impact. At 5 to 20 nanometers (one nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter), these particles are extremely small and invisible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, the hydroxyl radicals contained in nanoe™ technology are effective in inhibiting viruses^*1 and bacteria^*2 and in reducing odors^*3, supporting safe and comfortable living environments.

Research on this technology began in 1997 as part of a project by Japan’s former Ministry of International Trade and Industry (today’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). Because it involved unprecedented nanotechnology, the work continued without results for some time, and at one point the research was nearly abandoned. However, the research director at the time was determined to persevere, and the project progressed. In 2003, the first water refill-type generating device was completed, and in 2005, the Peltier-type generating device, the foundation for current systems, was developed. This generation technology has since been further refined and is now used in a wide range of environments.

Meanwhile, Panasonic has continued to verify the effects of nanoe™ technology. To date, inhibitory effects have been confirmed in viruses and bacteria, swine-origin influenza virus^*4, pet-related allergens^*5, as well as in the breakdown of PM 2.5 components^*6 and in fungi attached to Yellow Sand^*7, SARS-CoV-2^*8, dust mite allergens^*9 in bedding fibers, and more.

Panasonic Corporation’s Yasuhiro Komura, who has dedicated his career to research of nanoe™ technology since joining the company, had the following to say about the knowledge and credibility these verification studies have accumulated.

Komura: “A major reason why nanoe™ has become so widely recognized is that we have consistently been in the vanguard of addressing contemporary social issues. For example, we began work early on and conducted verification studies on things like swine-origin influenza virus and the novel coronavirus. Our results have also been published. I believe that providing answers aligned to the needs of the times is tied to where we are today. As a company, we always keep one eye on the future and are constantly on the alert for new developments.”

Within the home appliance business, we are venturing into new territory to take the effectiveness of nanoe™ technology to the next level. Two studies that embody the guiding theme of “expanding the benefits for people.” The “Study on Improving Concentration While Driving” and the “Clinical Trial Demonstrating Efficacy Against Pollen Symptoms” featured here embody this approach. These two groundbreaking initiatives represent the very first step in shifting our focus from products to people.

The majority of traffic accidents can be attributed to human error resulting from failures to perceive hazards, poor judgment, or improper vehicle operation. According to statistics from the National Police Agency of Japan, distracted driving—a lack of attention while driving—is the leading cause of fatal vehicle-related accidents in Japan.

Could nanoe™ be used to enhance driver concentration? Toshihiro Okada from Panasonic Corporation considered this possibility and approached professors from the transportation systems engineering laboratory at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB).

Okada: “What kind of effects might nanoe™ have on humans? During team discussions, one theme that emerged was ‘driving,’ which is closely connected to everyday life. So, we researched academic literature from around the world and discovered that professors at the IITB transportation systems engineering laboratory were conducting research that combined human psychology with situational context and driving performance. We asked them if they would conduct a scientific study of our hypothesis.”

The verification study was conducted using a driving simulator with 20 male and female participants aged 21 to 42 living in India. Specifically, data were collected under conditions with and without nanoe™, including physiological data such as electroencephalography (EEG) and eye-tracking, as well as driving data such as accelerator and brake inputs. Based on this, the full sequence of driving tasks was scientifically analyzed. The results confirmed that nanoe™ technology may support improved concentration and stabilize gaze behavior.

Okada: “We have previously verified the various effects related to cleanliness (such as sterilization and deodorization) in a wide range of environments. However, this time the goal was not to purify the air, but to measure whether nanoe™ has an effect on humans, so the approach was fundamentally different. The fact that our collaboration with IITB professors found some indication that it improves concentration was a significant achievement.”

This is still only the starting point, and Panasonic plans to conduct further research in Japan, including work to unravel the underlying mechanisms. Still, it is clear that a step into previously unexplored territory has been taken.

Okada: “These signs of improved concentration suggest that the range of potential applications will expand going forward. For example, this technology could be applied to exam preparation or office work.”

The second verification study focuses on pollen symptoms, which have become more severe due to global warming. While previous studies have demonstrated that nanoe™ suppresses allergens within pollen and inhibits allergic reactions at the cellular level, for this study the focus was on people who self-reported nasal symptoms caused by Japanese cedar pollen. A human clinical trial demonstrated that nanoe™ technology improved pollen symptoms.

The study was conducted jointly with a leading authority in pollen allergy research in Japan— Professor Shigeharu Fujieda of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Fukui School of Medical Sciences. Komura, who led the initiative, reflected on the process.

Komura: “It was an established fact that nanoe™ had demonstrated effectiveness on various objects. However, we did not know whether customers were deriving value from these results. Suppressing a virus does not necessarily mean that it prevents actual infection. I felt the need to confirm the technology’s benefits to people and continued to explore that possibility, but the hurdles were high and verification was quite a challenge. It was at that point that we connected with the University of Fukui—an institution with which Panasonic had already established a center for joint research—and seeing this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we began the initiative.”

The verification study targeted 101 participants who self-reported nasal symptoms caused by Japanese cedar pollen and was conducted in an environment designed to approximate real-life conditions. For three hours, up to five participants would stay in a room of approximately 75 m³ that also contained naturally dispersed outdoor pollen. Participants were allowed to spend their time freely, with care taken to prevent them from becoming overly conscious of the test. A double-blind design ensured that neither participants nor analysts knew whether nanoe™ technology had been activated. Symptoms were assessed hourly using a questionnaire, and changes were recorded over time.

Komura: “We used a scale which ranged from ‘no symptoms’ to ‘extreme symptoms,’ and participants indicated their level in a questionnaire. All participants had been exposed to environmental pollen prior to the test and were already exhibiting symptoms. Our study would evaluate how these symptoms changed over time. After three hours, we discovered that suppression of symptoms in individuals in the nanoe™ group was significant. Moreover, participants reported improvements not only in specific symptoms such as nasal congestion, but in overall pollen-related symptoms.”

One of the benefits of nanoe™ is that it’s invisible, which minimizes the risk of psychological bias. As with the driving concentration study, it allows for a fully double-blind test. Professor Fujieda commented: “The study was also designed to eliminate participant expectations and evaluator bias, thereby increasing the reliability of the results. nanoe™ technology shows promise as a new option for pollen-allergy countermeasures.” Komura expressed confidence that they had found evidence supporting the usefulness of the technology.

Komura: “Many customers are using nanoe™ to combat pollen allergies. By collaborating with universities and gathering scientific evidence, I believe its reliability and value will increase even further. Because this technology directly benefits people’s lives, I feel a strong sense of achievement in having been able to demonstrate its positive effects on humans. Looking ahead, we will continue to conduct research in collaboration with academic institutions, including Professor Fujieda’s laboratory. I would like to investigate its effects not only on pollen, but across a wider range of human applications.”

Yohei Ishigami from Panasonic Corporation has long been involved in the development of devices for generating nanoe™ (hydroxyl radicals contained in water). According to Ishigami, discussions have taken place during the research and development process regarding the potential for nanoe™ to produce biological effects on its own.

Ishigami: “However, it’s difficult to demonstrate the direct effects on humans due to regulatory considerations related to medical devices, so until now the focus has been on ‘things.’ However, I believe these two verification studies are a step forward in our research. There are still many unknowns, but our goal is to provide clear evidence so that people can use the technology with confidence. We intend to continue our research to achieve that.”

At the root of their efforts is the team’s ongoing commitment to investigate how nanoe™ technology can deliver greater value to people.

Ishigami: “In addition what we observe in our daily work, we attend academic conferences to understand social issues and make an effort to incorporate broader perspectives beyond our own. From there, we proactively propose ideas that we think might be useful, and if something seems promising, we try it. That’s how we approach this challenge.”

Okada, who is also responsible for global market development, said, “This is a technology with value worth spreading worldwide. By ensuring that people fully understand its value, we aim to make it a technology that is chosen globally.” Added Komura: “Despite having worked exclusively on nanoe™, I can see that there is still plenty of room for further development. It is our mission to evolve it further.”

Unravelling the precise mechanisms at work within the human body will require medical expertise and clinical trials, and the road ahead is steep. Nevertheless, efforts will continue toward realizing a world where exposure to nanoe™ (hydroxyl radicals contained in water) enhances human well-being.

Note: These results were obtained under specific test conditions and do not guarantee effectiveness during actual use.

*1 Testing organization: Japan Food Research Laboratories; Test method: Measurement of virus adhering to a cloth in a test room of approx. 6 tatami mats (9.72 square meters); Inhibition method: Releasing nanoe™; Target: Adhering virus; Test result: More than 99% inhibited after 8 hours of exposure (Report No. 13001265005-01); Report issued on: February 11, 2013 (Test conducted on only one type of virus)
*2 Testing organization: Japan Food Research Laboratories; Test method: Measurement of bacteria adhering to a cloth in an approx. 6 tatami mat test room; Inhibition method: Releasing nanoe™; Target: Adhering bacteria; Test result: More than 99% inhibited after 8 hours (Report No. 13044083003-01); Report issued on: June 14, 2013(Test conducted on only one type of bacteria)
*3 Cigarette smoke odor: Testing organization: Panasonic Product Analysis Center; Test method: Verified in an approx. 6 tatami mat test room using a 6-level odor intensity scale; Method of deodorization: Releasing nanoe™; Target: Adhering cigarette smoke odor; Test result: Odor intensity reduced by 2.4 levels in 0.2 hours (Report No. 4AA33-160615-N04). Perspiration odor: Testing organization: Panasonic Product Analysis Center; Test method: Verified in an approx. 6 tatami mat test room using a 6-level odor intensity scale; Method of deodorization: Releasing nanoe™; Target: Adhering perspiration odor; Test result: Odor intensity reduced by 1.1 levels in 1 hour (Report No. 4AA33-151221-N01, Y16HM016)
*4 Testing organization: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Test method: Measurement of virus through direct exposure in a 45L sealed container; Inhibition method: Releasing nanoe™; Target: Adhering virus (Swine-origin influenza virus (A/Narita/2009 (H1N1) pdm); Test result: More than 99% inhibited after 6 hours; Report issued on: October 9, 2009
*5 Dog-derived allergen / Cat-derived allergen: Testing organization: Institute of Tokyo, Environmental Allergy; Test method: Measurement after direct exposure in a sealed 45L container using the ELISA method; Inhibition method: Release of nanoe™; Target: Dog-derived allergens, cat-derived allergens; Test result: Dog (dander): More than 99% inhibited after 1 hour (Report No. 11M-RPTAPR047_1); Cat (dander): More than 98% inhibited after 2 hours (Report No. 11M-RPTAPR051_1)
*6 Testing organization: Panasonic Product Analysis Center; Test method: Measurement of the amount of adhering organic substances in an approx. 6 tatami mat test room (approximately 24 m³); Inhibition method: Release of nanoe™; Test result: Aromatic carboxylic acid (benzoic acid): More than 99% decomposed in approx. 8 hours (Report No. Y17NF096); Paraffin (hexadecane): More than 99% decomposed in approx. 16 hours (Report No. Y17NF089)
*7 Testing organization: Kanazawa University; Test method: Measurement of the number of bacteria attached to a cloth in an approx. 6 tatami mat test room (approximately 24 m³); Inhibition method: Release of nanoe™; Target: Adhering bacteria; Test result: More than 99% inhibited after 8 hours (joint research report); Report issued on: March 28, 2013; (Test conducted on only one type of bacteria)
*8 Testing organization: Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center; Test method: Measurement of virus adhering to a cloth in an approx. 6 tatami mat test room (approximately 24 m³); Inhibition method: Release of nanoe™; Target: Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2); Test result: More than 99% inhibited after 8 hours (Report No. 21KB080433-1); Report issued on: October 25, 2021
*9 Testing organization: Panasonic Product Analysis Center; Test method: Measurement of allergen adhering to a cloth in an approx. 6 tatami mat test room at a depth of 1 cm using ELISA method; Inhibition method: Release of nanoe™; Target: Adhering allergen (dust mite-derived); Test result: More than 99% inhibited after 24 hours (Report No. H23YA028); Report issued on: July 26, 2023

Published on February 13, 2026 (Friday), in “The Future of Technology Connecting People and the World.”