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Updated: May 23, 2026
06:36
Treating Surfaces with a Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma using the COST-Jet
Published on: November 2, 2020
In Vitro Antimicrobial Effect of a Cold Plasma Jet against Enterococcus faecalis Biofilms
Chunqi Jiang1, Christoph Schaudinn, David E Jaramillo
1Department of Electrical Engineering-Electrophysics, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
ISRN Dentistry
|March 31, 2012
Summary
Cold plasma jets show significant antimicrobial effects against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms, achieving a 93.1% bacterial kill rate in vitro. This suggests cold plasma is a promising alternative for biofilm disinfection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Enterococcus faecalis forms robust biofilms, posing challenges in clinical settings.
- Biofilm infections are notoriously difficult to eradicate with conventional antimicrobial agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of cold plasma jets against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms.
- To compare the effectiveness of cold plasma treatment with a standard disinfectant (5.25% sodium hypochlorite).
Main Methods:
- Enterococcus faecalis biofilms were cultivated on hydroxyapatite discs over six days.
- Discs were divided into negative control, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) treatment, and cold plasma jet treatment groups.
- Bacterial viability was assessed via colony-forming unit counts, and cell morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Main Results:
- Cold plasma treatment resulted in a 93.1% reduction in viable Enterococcus faecalis, while 5.25% NaOCl achieved a 90.0% reduction (P < 0.0001).
- SEM analysis revealed minimal intact bacterial cells on surfaces treated with cold plasma.
- The study demonstrated a significant bactericidal effect of cold plasma on E. faecalis biofilms.
Conclusions:
- Cold plasma jets exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms.
- The bactericidal mechanism of cold plasma may involve enhanced oxidation via reactive plasma species.
- Cold plasma presents a potential novel therapeutic strategy for combating biofilm infections.
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