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Disinfection and
Sterilization Using Plasma Technology
Recent studies have shown that plasma can efficiently
inactivate microbial pathogens such as bacteria, fungi,
and viruses in addition to degrading toxins. Moreover,
this technology is effective at inactivating pathogens on
the surface of medical and dental devices, as well as
agricultural products. The current practical applications
of plasma technology range from sterilizing therapeutic
medical devices to improving crop yields, as well as the
area of food preservation. A review introducing recent
advances and future perspectives in plasma technology,
especially in applications related to disinfection and
sterilization is givent @ ref1 below. It also introduces
the latest studies, mainly focusing on the pote n tial app
l i cations of plasma technology for the inactivation of
microorganisms and the degradation of toxins.
What is Plasma ?
There are three commonly encountered states of matter:
solid, liquid, and gas. When a solid is heated, it
transforms into a liquid and then from a liquid into a
gas. If enough energy is applied to gas, it becomes an
ionized gas known as plasma, which represents the fourth
fundamental state of matter [8]. The plasma contains
reactive chemical species such as electrons, ions, neutral
molecules, and atoms, as well as charged species [9]. In
addition, the emission of radiation occurs in the
ultraviolet (UV) as well as visible and near-infrared
regions during plasma generation.
Future Perspectives in Medicine and Dentistry
Sterilization of medical instruments contaminated with
pathogens is crucial in preventing secondary infections.
Currently, medical instruments are sterilized by
autoclaving, gamma-ray treatment, UV exposure, and the use
of gases such as ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide,
formaldehyde, peracetic acid. Each sterilization method
has both advantages and disadvantages.
The potential of plasma technology in medical and dental
applications is extremely broad. Along with disinfection /
sterilization of medical and dental devices, the
technology could be used to treat beds, desks, and floors
. Plasma technology may also have therapeutic potential.
Therapeutic uses include the treatment of skin diseases,
blood coagulation as well as dental treatment and
applications in dermatology such as chronic wound healing.
Recently, the potential application of plasma
technology as a novel anticancer therapy has been
assessed. Induction of cancer cell death by both direct
and indirect exposure of plasma has been reported.
(Ref 1 : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6834201/)
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