Trypan Blue Image-Guided Removal of Surface-Based Bacterial Biofilms from Chicken Tissue Using Cold Atmospheric...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Plasma Physics
• Microbiology

Background:

• Biofilms pose significant challenges in various settings, including food safety and healthcare.
• Effective biofilm removal is crucial for preventing infections and contamination.
• Current debridement methods may have limitations in efficacy and tissue preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an image-guided cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment for rapid biofilm removal from chicken tissue.
• To assess the performance of a plasma device utilizing Argon and H2O gas mixture for biofilm disruption.
• To compare biofilm thickness on chicken tissue with that on mammalian tissues.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an image-guided CAP treatment system with a plasma scalpel.
• Employed a gas mixture of Argon and H2O at 1.5 lpm flowrate.
• Moved chicken samples on an X-Y stage at 0.1 mm/s under the plasma discharge (3.2–3.7 kV, 3 mA).
• Analyzed biofilm reduction using CFU counts and 3D microscopic imaging.

Main Results:

• Achieved >99% biofilm reduction on chicken tissue.
• Observed an etch rate of 2.2–5.8 μm/s and an impact width up to 300 μm.
• Plasma electrode reached 94.7 °C, while tissue reached 36.3 °C, indicating non-thermal disruption.
• Biofilm thickness ranged from 20 to 180 μm, comparable to mammalian tissues.

Conclusions:

• Image-guided CAP treatment is highly effective for rapid biofilm removal from chicken tissue.
• The non-thermal plasma mechanism suggests potential for sensitive tissue applications.
• CAP devices present a promising solution for biofilm debridement in various contexts.