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The following article is Open access

A novel plasma source for sterilization of living tissues

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Published 26 November 2009 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Focus on Plasma Medicine Citation E Martines et al 2009 New J. Phys. 11 115014 DOI 10.1088/1367-2630/11/11/115014

1367-2630/11/11/115014

Abstract

A source for the production of low-power plasmas at atmospheric pressure, to be used for the nondamaging sterilization of living tissues, is presented. The source, powered by radiofrequency and working with a helium flow, has a specific configuration, studied to prevent the formation of electric arcs dangerous to living matter. It is capable of killing different types of bacteria with a decimal reduction time of 1–2 min; on the contrary, human cells such as conjunctival fibroblasts were found to be almost unharmed by the plasma. A high concentration of OH radicals, likely to be the origin of the sterilizing effect, is detected through their UV emission lines. The effect of the UV and the OH radicals on the fibroblasts was analysed and no significant effects were detected.

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10.1088/1367-2630/11/11/115014