<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Microbiological contamination is a big challenge to the food industry, medicine, agriculture, and environmental protection. For this reason, scientists are constantly looking for alternative methods of decontamination, which ensure the effective elimination of unwanted biological agents. Cold plasma is a new technology, which due to its unique physical and chemical properties becomes a point of interest to a growing group of researchers. The previously conducted experiments confirm its effective action, e.g. in the disinfection of skin wounds, air, and sewage treatment, as well as in food preservation and decontamination. The reactive compounds present in the plasma: high-energy electrons, ionized atoms and molecules, and UV photons are the key factors that cause an effective reduction in the number of microorganisms. The mechanism and effectiveness of the cold plasma are complex and depend on the process parameters, environmental factors and the type and properties of the microorganisms that are to be killed. This review describes the current state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of the cold plasma and characterizes its interaction with various groups of microorganisms based on the available literature data.</p></abstract>

Microbiological contamination is a big challenge to the food industry, medicine, agriculture, and environmental protection. For this reason, scientists are constantly looking for alternative methods of decontamination, which ensure the effective elimination of unwanted biological agents. Cold plasma is a new technology, which due to its unique physical and chemical properties becomes a point of interest to a growing group of researchers. The previously conducted experiments confirm its effective action, e.g. in the disinfection of skin wounds, air, and sewage treatment, as well as in food preservation and decontamination. The reactive compounds present in the plasma: high-energy electrons, ionized atoms and molecules, and UV photons are the key factors that cause an effective reduction in the number of microorganisms. The mechanism and effectiveness of the cold plasma are complex and depend on the process parameters, environmental factors and the type and properties of the microorganisms that are to be killed. This review describes the current state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of the cold plasma and characterizes its interaction with various groups of microorganisms based on the available literature data.

The State of Research on Antimicrobial Activity of Cold Plasma

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The State of Research on Antimicrobial Activity of Cold Plasma"}

Microbiological contamination is a big challenge to the food industry, medicine, agriculture, and environmental protection. For this reason, scientists are...

The State of Research on Antimicrobial Activity of Cold Plasma

Article Category: minireview

Published Online: Jun 28, 2019

Page range: 153 - 164

Received: Jan 17, 2019

Accepted: Apr 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2019-028

Keywords
biofilm, cellular response, cold plasma, mycotoxin, viruses

© 2019 Iwona NiedŸwiedŸ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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The State of Research on Antimicrobial Activity of Cold Plasma

Article Category: minireview

Published Online: Jun 28, 2019

Page range: 153 - 164

Received: Jan 17, 2019

Accepted: Apr 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2019-028

Keywordsbiofilm, cellular response, cold plasma, mycotoxin, viruses

© 2019 Iwona NiedŸwiedŸ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Keywords
biofilm, cellular response, cold plasma, mycotoxin, viruses