How Infrared-Treated Humid Air May Protect Enzymes from Damage
Exploring a Novel Intervention That Could Help Enzymes Bounce Back from Heat, Oxidation, and Denaturation
In the world of biochemistry, enzymes are the unsung heroes—delicately balanced molecules that make life possible by speeding up the reactions that fuel our bodies. But enzymes are also fragile. Heat, oxidation, and chemical stress can render them inactive or ineffective. A recent study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences introduces a fascinating method to help protect these essential molecules: using infrared-treated humid air.
The Premise: Protecting Enzymes with CoHu
The study, titled “Effect of Humid Air Exposed to IR Radiation on Enzyme Activity”, investigated whether a specially prepared form of air — called CoHu (short for Coherent Humidification) — could shield enzymes from various types of damage. CoHu is created by exposing humidified air to a specific type of infrared (IR) light, which is believed to alter the physical properties of the water microdroplets suspended in the air.
Importantly, this humid air is not hot and doesn’t directly interact with the enzymes through radiation. Instead, it acts indirectly, possibly by restructuring the water environment around enzymes in a beneficial way.
What Did the Study Find?
Researchers tested the effects of CoHu on three enzymes:
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Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)
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Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
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Catalase (CAT)
These enzymes were subjected to three types of stress:
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Heat inactivation
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Oxidative inactivation
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Chemical denaturation
They found that CoHu helped preserve or restore enzyme activity in most cases — especially when applied before or after damage had occurred.
Key Highlights:
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HRP (Heat Stress): Activity dropped 4.5-fold after heating. CoHu before the heat preserved 24.9% of activity; after heating, it restored 14.9%.
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ALP (Heat Stress): Post-treatment with CoHu boosted activity by 130% compared to the untreated damaged control.
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CAT (Oxidative Stress): CoHu partially restored its ability to break down hydrogen peroxide, with a 17.8% improvement when applied before oxidation.
Even after chemical denaturation — a severe form of damage — CoHu treatments were able to significantly recover enzymatic function in HRP and ALP.
Why Might This Work?
The authors suggest that CoHu’s effects may be due to the formation of Exclusion Zones (EZs) in water. EZs are structured layers of water that form around hydrophilic surfaces and carry unique properties — such as a negative charge and low entropy.
By exposing humid air to IR light, especially at 1270 nm (a wavelength linked to singlet oxygen), the water microdroplets may develop these EZs more effectively. When these microdroplets come into contact with enzyme solutions, they could donate electrons to damaged enzymes and create a more stable, energy-rich environment.
This theory aligns with the pioneering work of Dr. Gerald Pollack, who has championed the idea that EZ water plays a critical role in biological function and acts as a kind of antioxidant buffer.
The Role of the NanoVi® Device
To produce CoHu, researchers used a device called NanoVi®, which creates humid air from pure water and irradiates it with IR light. This creates 1–10 µm-sized water droplets potentially enriched with EZ properties. The modified air is then channeled to the enzyme solutions in a controlled lab setting.
What This Means for Science — and Possibly Medicine
Although this research is still in its early stages, the implications are exciting. If CoHu can consistently preserve or even rejuvenate enzyme activity, it may have applications in:
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Biotechnology, where enzyme stability is crucial
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Medical therapies, particularly for oxidative stress-related conditions
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Aging research, where maintaining enzyme function is a key concern
Of course, further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms in more detail. But this research opens a promising new avenue for protecting the delicate machinery of life — without drugs or direct energy exposure, but with something as simple as energized humid air.
