In vitro bactericidal efficacy of atmospheric-pressure plasma jet on titanium-based implant infected with Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a representative of gram-positive bacteria that causes skin infection, respiratory diseases, and burned tissue infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sterilizing efficiency of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ) on S. aureus adhered on a titanium surface. During the APPJ sterilization, the plasma gases used were Ar, Ar+N2, and Ar+O2. With increasing APPJ treatment time, the viability of S. aureus decreased. The addition of O2 gas to Ar gas resulted in a higher sterilizing efficiency than the addition of other groups. Plasma exposure induced bacterial oxidative stress, and it was confirmed that the cell membrane was seriously damaged by the production of reactive oxygen species. Our finding suggests that the APPJ is an effective tool for clinical antimicrobial therapy.

Interaction of cold atmospheric plasmas with cell membranes in plasma medicine studies

“…Park et al also demonstrated using SEM that the morphology of S. aureus was changed, with rupture of cell membranes and leakage of cellular components, by the application of a DBD jet using either pure argon or argon with 1% each of either oxygen or nitrogen. 22) Pompl et al 23) used AFM to visualize two E. coli cells before and after a treatment with a microwave plasma torch operating with argon, showing that the cell wall was ruptured and cell plasma was released to the outside. Finally, Yamaoka et al revealed, by the use of high-speed AFM, alterations in the morphological dynamic of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs), taken as a model foe cell membranes, as a result of treatment with plasma-activated Ringer's lactate solution.…”