Characterization of an Air-Based Coaxial Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Source for Biofilm Eradication

Abstract

Air-based atmospheric-pressure cold plasmas are a source of charged particles, excited species, radicals, and UV rays, known to induce degradation of biomaterials. In this work we characterize an air-based Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma source designed for biofilm eradication, and study plasmas generated under different conditions by Optical Emission Spectroscopy. The main excited species in air-based plasmas are N 2 (C 3 P u ) molecules and the gas temperatures never exceed 335 K, decreasing as air amounts increase in the feeding gas. Excited oxygen atoms and OH species are only detected in discharges generated in argon-containing gases. The temperature of the effluent remains below 308 K. Air-based plasmas are useful for biofilm eradication as they produce high amounts of ozone at a low gas temperature.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm matrix and cells are drastically impacted by gas discharge plasma treatment: A comprehensive model explaining plasma-mediated biofilm eradication

“…In addition, in a previous contribution we characterized our plasma source by optical emission spectroscopy and detected the presence of excited N 2 bands and N 2 + ions and the formation of O 3 , H 2 O 2 and NO 3 - in the plasma afterglow [41]. We then hypothesized that these reactive species might trigger lipid peroxidation and a chain reaction leading to the generation of lipid radicals.…”

“…As described in a previous contribution [18], air was used for plasma generation and the electric discharge took place at the interelectrode region and consisted of a series of short-lived filamentary micro-discharges. Typical waveforms of current and voltage applied to the inner electrode during the discharge showed the filamentary character of the discharge and also the existence of current peaks in the order of 10 mA with a negligible displacement current of ~ 0.01 mA superimposed [41].…”

“…In a previous contribution we characterized our plasma source by optical emission spectroscopy and detected the presence of excited N 2 bands and N 2 + ions and the formation of O 3 , H 2 O 2 and NO 3 - in the plasma afterglow [41].…”

“…We have used a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma source operating in humidified air to treat P . aeruginosa biofilms and characterized the chemical composition of the effluent gas [18,41]. A similar DBD configuration has been proven effective against biofilms by other authors [11,12,42].…”

Technical applications of plasma treatments: current state and perspectives

“…In response to enhanced antibiotic resistance of biofilms, the research has focused on alternative approaches for an efficient inactivation and removal of bacterial biofilms. Introducing CAPP technology in biofilm eradication has proven to be a potent inactivation approach against a range of biofilm forming microorganisms (Czapka et al 2018;Handorf et al 2018;Soler-Arango 2018). The efficiency of CAPP inactivation was found to be bacterial species and strain dependant.…”