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

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2717576· OSTI ID:20982808

Deng, X T; Shi, J J; Kong, M G ^[1]

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1. Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU (United Kingdom)

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/mm{sup 2}. 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.

• OSTI ID: 20982808
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 101, Issue 7; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2717576; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
FLUORESCENCE
GLOW DISCHARGES
HELIUM
INACTIVATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LASERS
MICROORGANISMS
NITRIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PROTEINS
REDUCTION
STAINLESS STEELS
STERILIZATION