Flexible Microplasma Discharge Device for Treating Burn Wound Injuries Against Fungal Infections

Abstract

A flexible microplasma discharge device (MDD) was fabricated for the eradication of Candida albicans, an opportunistic pathogenic yeast, using ambient air as the sterilization agent. To fabricate the MDD, silver ink was deposited on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films in a honeycomb and circular design using screen-printing process to fabricate the top and bottom electrodes. Then the MDD was assembled by attaching the top and bottom electrode using a two-sided Kapton tape (dielectric layer). The antifungal efficacy of the MDD was investigated by varying parameters including treatment time (60, 90 and 120 seconds) and applied voltage (6, 8 and 10 V). The antifungal efficacies of 12.5% and 100% were achieved for applied voltage ranging from 6 V to 10 V for a treatment time of 60 seconds respectively. Similarly, as the treatment time increased from 60 seconds to 120 seconds for an applied voltage of 6 V, an efficacy rate of 3% to 95% was obtained, respectively. In addition, a surface temperature of 22.4 °C was measured at an applied voltage of 6 V which is safe to the wound area. This clearly demonstrated that the MDD can eliminate the C. albicans with an efficacy rate of 95% at a low voltage of 6 V and treatment time of 120 seconds.