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Protein destruction by a helium atmospheric pressure glow discharge: capability and mechanisms

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journal contribution
posted on 2009-08-20, 13:27 authored by Xu-Tao Deng, J.J. Shi, Michael G. Kong
Biological sterilization represents one of the most exciting applications of atmospheric pressure glow discharges (APGD). Despite the fact that surgical instruments are contaminated by both microorganisms and proteinaceous matters, sterilization effects of APGD have so far been studied almost exclusively for microbial inactivation. This work presents the results of a detailed investigation of the capability of a helium-oxygen APGD to inactivate proteins deposited on stainless-steel surfaces. Using a laser-induced fluorescence technique for surface protein measurement, a maximum protein reduction of 4.5 logs is achieved by varying the amount of the oxygen admixture into the background helium gas. This corresponds to a minimum surface protein of 0.36 femtomole/mm2. It is found that plasma reduction of surface-borne protein is through protein destruction and degradation, and that its typically biphasic reduction kinetics is influenced largely by the thickness profile of the surface protein. Also presented is a complementary study of possible APGD protein inactivation mechanisms. By interplaying the protein inactivation kinetics with optical emission spectroscopy, it is shown that the main protein-destructing agents are excited atomic oxygen (via the 777 and 844 nm emission channels) and excited nitride oxide (via the 226, 236, and 246 nm emission channels). It is also demonstrated that the most effective protein reduction is achieved possibly through a synergistic effect between atomic oxygen and nitride oxide. This study is a useful step toward a full confirmation of the efficacy of APGD as a sterilization technology for surgical instruments contaminated by prion proteins.

History

School

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Citation

DENG X.T., SHI, J.J. and KONG, M.G., 2007. Protein destruction by a helium atmospheric pressure glow discharge: capability and mechanisms. Journal of Applied Physics, 101 (7), article 074701, pp.1-9.

Publisher

© American Institute of Physics

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Publication date

2007

Notes

Copyright 2007 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the authors and the American Institute of Physics. This article appeared in the Journal of Applied Physics and may be found at: http://link.aip.org/link/?JAPIAU/101/074701/1

ISSN

0021-8979

Language

  • en