Gas Plasma Technology—An Asset to Healthcare During Viral Pandemics Such as the COVID-19 Crisis?

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis profoundly disguised the vulnerability of human societies and healthcare systems in the situation of a pandemic. In many instances, it became evident that the quick and safe reduction of viral load and spread is the foremost principle in the successful management of such a pandemic. However, it became also clear that many of the established routines in healthcare are not always sufficient to cope with the increased demand for decontamination procedures of items, healthcare products, and even infected tissues. For the last 25 years, the use of gas plasma technology has sparked a tremendous amount of literature on its decontaminating properties, especially for heat-labile targets, such as polymers and tissues, where chemical decontamination often is not appropriate. However, while the majority of earlier work focused on bacteria, only relatively few reports are available on the inactivation of viruses. We here aim to provide a perspective for the general audience of the chances and opportunities of gas plasma technology for supporting healthcare during viral pandemics such as the COVID-19 crisis. This includes possible real-world plasma applications, appropriate laboratory viral test systems, and critical points on the technical and safety requirements of gas plasmas for virus inactivation.

Cold atmospheric plasma inactivation of aerosolized microdroplets containing bacteria and purified SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA to contrast airborne indoor transmission

“…Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPs) have been increasingly used as a tool for air sterilization and decontamination. [ 20,21 ] CAPs generate many reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as O 3 , NO, NO 2 , N 2 O 5 , HNO 2 , HNO 3 , ONOO − , H 2 O 2 , , and many other reactive species, that can react with the airborne particles and mediate various oxidative processes. [ 22–25 ] Due to the associated electric field, nonthermal plasmas (NTPs) can alter particle transport by inducing a negative charge on the particles, thus imparting charge‐driven filtration as well as trapping of these particles.…”

An overview of food safety and COVID-19 infection

“…Cold plasma has demonstrated great potential for inactivation of SARS-CoV-2. 10 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 Since it does not generate waste or toxic chemicals, this method is seen as environmentally friendly. This technique also has potential with extensive applications in the disinfection of food surfaces, equipment, and food packages.…”

“…These studies showed that cold plasma could be an effective method to avoid transmission and infections on various surfaces. 89 , 101 Also, Verma (2020) has reported that application parameters such as duration should be optimized for the elimination of viruses on the contaminated material. 94 In terms of food products, inactivation of the Tulane virus on spinach, 102 murine norovirus-1 and hepatitis A virus on fresh meats, 95 norovirus surrogates on blueberries 97 and some other food systems, 103 Tulane virus on romaine lettuce, 104 and Newcastle disease virus on poultry 105 was effectively applied by cold plasma treatment.…”

A low power flexible dielectric barrier discharge disinfects surfaces and improves the action of hydrogen peroxide

“…Brought into focus by the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is no longer limited to medical, pharmaceutical, or food industry, but rather expanded to the decontamination of commonly used surfaces such as doorknobs and devices, such as masks, cell phones, and pens. Over the last two decades, cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAP) have seen rapid development in the areas of bacterial and viral inactivation and surface disinfection 1 – 8 . A recent review 8 summarizes the achievements of a broad range of CAP plasma sources, including dielectric barrier discharges (DBD), that effectively inactivate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacterial spores.…”