Capillary-tube-based micro-plasma system for disinfecting dental biofilm. (May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Wen-Ke; Weng, Chih-Chiang; Liao, Jiunn-Der; Wang, Yi-Cheng; Chuang, Shu-Fen
• Is Part Of: International journal of radiation biology. Volume 89:Number 5(2013:May)
• Page Start: 364
• Page End: 370
• Publication Date: 2013-05
• Subjects: Radiation -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Radiobiology -- Periodicals; 571.45
• DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2013.756594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-3002

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Purpose</italic>: A low-temperature low-energy capillary-tube-based argon micro-plasma system was applied to disinfect <italic>Streptococcus mutans</italic>-containing biofilm.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: The micro-plasma system uses a hollow inner electrode that is ignited by a radio-frequency power supply with a matching network. The energy content was analyzed using optical emission spectroscopy. The micro-plasma-induced effect on a biofilm cultured for 24 or 48 h with a working distance of ≈3 mm at low temperature was evaluated. The morphologies of the treated live/dead bacteria and the produced polysaccharides after micro-plasma treatment were examined.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Scanning electron microscopy images and staining results show that most of the <italic>S. mutans</italic> on the treated biofilm were acutely damaged within a micro-plasma treatment time of 300 s.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: The number of living bacteria underneath the treated biofilm greatly decreased with treatment time. The proposed micro-plasma system can thus disinfect <italic>S. mutans</italic> on/in biofilms.</p> </abstract>