Despite becoming increasingly established as a treatment technique, the mechanism underlying the plasma treatment of onychomycosis has yet to be elucidated. Here, we focus on the interactions between the nail plate and a surface microdischarge plasma, including penetration, uptake, and chemical reactions. Results show that long‐lived gaseous species from plasma can penetrate the nail plate effectively and are primarily responsible for the instantaneous antionychomycosis effect. The amount of uptake far exceeded that of penetration. Attenuated total reflection‐Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show that antimicrobial compounds form on the nail surface. Combined with the uptake of active species in the nail plate, these antimicrobial compounds may inhibit microorganism growth, thereby promoting long‐term protection against onychomycosis.
Inside Front Cover: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a promising tool for onycomychosis treatment in clinic, however the mechanism underlying the plasma treatment of onychomycosis has yet to be elucidated. This paper focus on the interactions between the nail plate and a surface micro‐discharge (SMD) plasma. It has been found that penetration, uptake, and chemical reactions involving antimicrobial compounds each contribute to the instantaneous and long‐term anti‐onychomycosis effects induced by SMD plasma treatment.
Further details can be found in the article by Zilan Xiong, Renjie Huang, Yu Zhu, Kang Luo, Mengqi Li, Zhenping Zou, and Rui Han (https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.202000204).
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