A quiet analytical research laboratory at night, racks of glass vials along a dim bench.

NAC Nano (In Development)

NAC Nano is nano-delivered N-acetylcysteine for antioxidant and cellular support formulations. It addresses three known weaknesses of NAC: low oral bioavailability, oxidation to its disulfide in storage, and a strong sulfurous odor and taste. It is in development and not on sale.

The delivery problem

NAC is a small (163 Da), water-soluble thiol and a precursor of cysteine, the rate-limiting amino acid for glutathione synthesis. Oral bioavailability is about 6 to 10% because NAC is deacetylated and metabolized in the gut wall and liver. The free thiol oxidizes readily, forming N,N'-diacetylcystine, and effervescent and powder formats release hydrogen sulfide notes that limit palatability, especially in liquids and shots. Together these three weaknesses explain why most NAC on the market is sold as plain capsules or effervescent tablets.

Evidence tier

NAC has decades of clinical use as an approved drug: intravenous and oral acetylcysteine is the standard antidote for acetaminophen overdose, and inhaled or oral NAC is used as a mucolytic in several countries. Evidence for supplement uses is mixed and indication-specific. We cite NAC's approved uses only to describe its pharmacology, not as claims for any formulation we develop. Its approved status also means drug-level pharmacokinetic data exist, which gives a well-characterized baseline against which any new formulation can be compared.

Regulatory status

In the US, acetylcysteine is an approved drug ingredient (Acetadote injection among others). In 2022 FDA issued guidance stating it would exercise enforcement discretion for NAC sold in dietary supplements. Health Canada lists NAC in a natural health product monograph. Rules differ in the EU and elsewhere. NAC is not on the WADA Prohibited List. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Key facts

Oral NAC bioavailability in humans is roughly 6 to 10% (Borgstrom et al. 1986, Eur J Clin Pharmacol)
NAC undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism and circulates largely as oxidized and protein-bound forms (Holdiness 1991, Clin Pharmacokinet)
Acetylcysteine is FDA approved as an antidote for acetaminophen overdose (FDA label, Acetadote)
FDA announced enforcement discretion for NAC in dietary supplements in 2022 (FDA guidance, NAC in dietary supplements, 2022)

How our delivery technology applies

Encapsulation targets the thiol. Isolating NAC in an inner layer with low oxygen and moisture access slows oxidation to the disulfide during storage, and the shell contains the sulfurous odor that makes liquid formats hard to sell. Mucoadhesive outer layers are designed to hold particles at the intestinal wall longer. Whether that raises plasma NAC above the 6 to 10% baseline is what our pharmacokinetic work is designed to test.

Discuss NAC Nano licensing or co-development.