A Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Discharge Device Exerts Antimicrobial Effects

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Plasma Physics

Background:

• Bacterial biofilms pose significant challenges in healthcare and industry due to their resistance to conventional antimicrobial treatments.
• Developing effective and rapid methods for biofilm eradication is crucial for infection control and material preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a cold atmospheric pressure plasma device for the rapid removal and inactivation of bacterial biofilms.
• To characterize the plasma discharge parameters and assess its efficacy against biofilm-resident bacteria.

Main Methods:

• A cold atmospheric pressure plasma device was constructed using Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic parallel plates with embedded electrodes.
• The device generated a 2.4 cm wide plasma discharge at 20 kHz with a 2-5 kV AC signal across a 0.25 mm gap.
• Mixed Argon/oxygen plasmas were applied to bacterial biofilm samples on glass for treatment.

Main Results:

• The plasma device successfully etched away bacterial biofilms from glass surfaces within 10 minutes at 4-5 kV.
• Short plasma treatments (<15 seconds) rapidly inactivated biofilm-resident bacteria, with effective dose (ED₉₀) values below 15 seconds.

Conclusions:

• The developed cold atmospheric pressure plasma device is a highly effective tool for rapid bacterial biofilm removal and inactivation.
• This technology shows promise for applications requiring rapid and efficient sterilization, such as in medical device decontamination or food safety.