Design and Medical Effects of a Vaginal Cleaning Device Generating Plasma-Activated Water with Antimicrobial Activity on Bacterial Vaginosis

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis is a common female disease caused by a vaginal infection due to an overgrowth of bacteria that naturally live in the vaginal tract. Bacterial vaginosis has frequently been treated with the oral or vaginal administration of antibiotics and topical disinfectants. However, hygienic application of topical treatment deep in the vagina remains difficult. Herein, we introduce a novel vaginal cleaning device using plasma-activated water generated from supplied water. Remarkably, plasma source generation at atmospheric pressure is well known to eradicate bacterial infection through the generation of free radicals and/or chlorine chemicals with antimicrobial activity. The device was designed to alleviate a bacterial infection by spraying plasma-activated water generated from a cleaning solution container with plasma modules. The spray nozzle contains both a clean outlet and a suction outlet to spray and recover the plasma water, respectively, and is connected to a disposable silicone tube. The other nozzle, which has a laser light and air pump, can perform a second sterilization and dry the vagina after washing. Free chlorine chemicals with antibacterial activity were detected in the plasma-activated water by the device. Clinical application in patients with bacterial vaginosis confirmed the stability and effectiveness of our device. Therefore, these results show a novel clinical application of atmospheric pressure plasma to medical field as a plasma medicine.

Human Trial for the Effect of Plasma-Activated Water Spray on Vaginal Cleaning in Patients with Bacterial Vaginosis

“…If it is similar to the effect of betaine, and plasma-activated water spraying can replace the chemical betadine, it is believed that it has great advantages in treating patients with vaginitis. This finding is consistent with vaginal cleaning effect of PAW to patients (five patients) with bacterial vaginosis in a previous preliminary study [26]. In addition to the vaginal cleaning effect, the antibacterial effect of PAW on overgrown bacteria related to bacterial vaginosis could be expected, because numerous studies have shown the antibacterial effect of PAW [14][15][16][17].…”

“…In this regard, plasma discharge in water would be a promising technology for easily and safely disinfecting tap water. In a previous preliminary study, we found a potential of PAW to patients with bacterial vaginosis (5 patients) [26]. However, there are still few studies related to the bacterial vaginosis of PAW when compared to the numerous studies showing the antibacterial effect of PAW.…”

“…PAW was prepared using an underwater plasma-generating device as previously reported [26]. Briefly, the atmospheric plasma was discharged for 10 min in a cleaning solution container with 3 L of tap water.…”

Analyses of the Chemical Composition of Plasma-Activated Water and Its Potential Applications for Vaginal Health

“…In previous studies, we confirmed the bactericidal effect of PAWs on clinically abnormal vaginal microbiota in clinical practice [14,19,20]. Patients sprayed with PAW (22.3%) had fewer Gram-positive and -negative bacteria than betadine treatment (BT) patients (14.4%) [14].…”

“…The PAW system comprised an underwater plasma-generating device, with plasma generated using procedures established previously [20]. An illustration of the device is provided in Figure 1; the device comprises a 3 L cleaning solution container, the atmospheric plasma electrodes, and a controller.…”