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Title: Plasma‐induced inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms: The role of atomic oxygen and comparison with disinfectants and antibiotics
Abstract

Microbial biofilms are of critical concern because of their recalcitrance to antimicrobials. Cold atmospheric plasmas (CAP) represent a promising biofilm remediation strategy as they generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), but mechanisms underpinning CAP‐biofilm interactions remain unknown. We assess the impact of treatment modality on biofilm inactivation and show that CAP killing ofStaphylococcus aureusbiofilms is dependent on treatment conditions, including solution chemistry. In dry treatments, biofilms are locally ablated due to plasma‐produced O flux. For saline‐submerged biofilms, while we show that ClOis generated at high concentrations in larger treatment volumes, CAP inactivation at low ClOconcentrations implicates other reaction pathways. Finally, we demonstrate CAP efficacy over conventional antimicrobials, underscoring its promise as a biofilm treatment approach.

 
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Award ID(s):
2020695
PAR ID:
10376013
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Plasma Processes and Polymers
Volume:
20
Issue:
1
ISSN:
1612-8850
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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