Inactivation of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Cold Plasma
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP); Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD); P. aeruginosa; S. epidermidis; Trichophyton rubrum.
AuthorsAbstractIn the present study, antibacterial and antifungal activities of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma were studied against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Trichophyton rubrum. A high purity argon gas and a high voltage AC power supply are used to fabricate a DBD plasma jet at atmospheric pressure. Antibacterial activity was carried out at 30, 60, 90 and 120 s of exposure times. Antifungal activity against T. rubrum was studied at exposure times between 3 and 24 min. The results demonstrated a clear time-dependent antimicrobial effect. After plasma treatment for 120 s, inactivation of bacteria was 55.7 % for P. aeruginosa and 60.3 % for S. epidermidis. The viable cell counts decreased with the plasma exposure time, indicating a better inactivation of the bacteria with longer treatment times. Moreover, the DBD plasma was effective in reducing the biofilm biomass, the lowest value of optical density being recorded after 120 s of treatment. SEM showed progressive morphological damage such as surface roughness, deformation of membranes, formation of pores, disruption of structure and loss of cellular integrity particularly in S. epidermidis. The antifungal results showed a gradual inhibition of T. rubrum growth with the increase of treatment time, and no visible fungal colony was observed after 24 min of DBD plasma exposure.
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