title: Inactivation of microorganisms and endotoxins by low temperature nitrogen gas plasma exposure.
abstract: The plasma of several different gases has shown a sporicidal activity. From these gases, nitrogen gas was most difficult to produce atomic nitrogen radicals. However, these radicals have a high energy, indicating that nitrogen gas plasma could be used to sterilize microorganisms and inactivate endotoxins. The sterilization mechanism of nitrogen gas plasma is the synergistic effect of a high rising-up voltage pulse, UV irradiation and atomic nitrogen radicals. Thus, the target cells were damaged by degradation, which resulted in death. The biological indicator (BI) used in this study was Geobacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953 at a population of 1 x 10(6) CFU/sheet. Sterility assurance was confirmed by using the BI. Moreover, endotoxins were successfully inactivated. More than 5 log reduction of endotoxins could be attained with 30 minutes of nitrogen gas plasma exposure. Material functionality influenced by nitrogen gas plasma presented a satisfactory result. No deterioration of polymers could be observed by nitrogen gas plasma exposure.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideharu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shintani
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imanishi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sekiya
authors.forename: Kahoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamazawa
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kido
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D008050:Lipid A / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004731:Endotoxins; D008050:Lipid A; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D009584:Nitrogen