The further development of cold plasma technology: The effectiveness of a contactless, indirect atmospheric cold plasma method for germ reduction on surfaces in vitro and in vivo

This study investigates the antimicrobial potential of an indirect cold plasma method for the treatment of wounds. Indirect plasma methods differ from direct methods in that the cold plasma does not come into direct contact with the surface to be treated. The indirect plasma method described here has been implemented in the PLASMOHEAL device. The device generates an aerosol of liquid particles, which is conditioned with plasma reaction products and passed over the areas to be treated without contact. In vitro tests show a significant germ reduction of 3.4 to 4.5 log levels against various microorganisms. In vivo tests on volunteers demonstrate a reduction in E. coli contamination of 4.06 to 5.15 log levels. These results show that indirect plasma methods can achieve equivalent effects to direct methods. The highly effective, pain-free treatment at moderate costs make the indirect plasma method a promising option in modern wound care.