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Plasma Sterilization: Spore Destruction by Microwave Plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

S. Lerouge ,
A. C. Fozza ,
M. R. Wertheimer ,
R. Marchand ,
M. Tabrizian  and
L'H Yahia
S. Lerouge
Affiliation:
Research Group on Biomechanics and Biomaterials
A. C. Fozza
Affiliation:
Dept. of Engineering Physics and Materials Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique, PO Box 6079, Station «C entre Ville »M, ontreal, Qc, H3C 3A7, Canada
M. R. Wertheimer
Affiliation:
Dept. of Engineering Physics and Materials Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique, PO Box 6079, Station «C entre Ville »M, ontreal, Qc, H3C 3A7, Canada
R. Marchand
Affiliation:
Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Belanger, Montreal, Qc, HIT 1C8, Canada
M. Tabrizian
Affiliation:
Research Group on Biomechanics and Biomaterials
L'H Yahia
Affiliation:
Research Group on Biomechanics and Biomaterials
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Abstract

Low-pressure plasmas are now being used for sterilization at ambient temperature. In this work, we have studied the possible mechanism of spore destruction by plasma, and compare it with etching of synthetic polymers. Bacillus subtilis spores were inoculated at the bottom of special glass vials and subjected to different plasma gas compositions, all known to etch polymers. The mortality rate of spores was found to vary with gas composition, between less than a 2 log decrease in 8 minutes for a pure oxygen plasma, to a 6 log decrease with 02CF4 mixture. Examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that spores were significantly etched after 30 minutes of plasma exposure, but not completely. We speculate about their etch resistance, compared with that of synthetic polymers, on the basis of their morphology and their complex coating structure.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 544: Symposium Y – Plasma Deposition and Treatment of Polymers , 1998 , 33
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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