Gas Plasma Sterilization in Microbiology

Gas Plasma Sterilization in MicrobiologyHideharu Shintani and Akikazu Sakudo present a new book on Gas Plasma Sterilization in Microbiology: Theory, Applications, Pitfalls and New Perspectives Gas plasma is the fourth state of matter, alongside solid, liquid, and gas. There are many naturally occurring events and man-made products related to gas plasma including: aurora, thunderstorms, high-intensity discharge headlamp bulbs, oxonizers, semiconductors, and solar battery panels. A gas plasma is generated by removing electrons from a gas, e.g. N2, to produce a highly excited mixture of charged nuclei and free electrons. It has enormous potential as a broad spectrum antimicrobial sterilization procedure with applications in medical, industrial and agricultural settings (e.g. decontamination of medical instruments). A major advantage is the shallow penetration of gas plasmas: only ~10-20 nm from the surface thereby minimising damage to the material being sterilized. An important obstacle to overcome is the 'understanding-gap' between the engineering researchers who are developing the gas plasma sterilization technology and the microbiologists who aim to fine tune it for their needs. This timely volume aims to bridge that gap, permitting engineers and microbiologists to develop more coherent multidisciplinary strategies. The book opens with introductory chapters that explain the background and principles of gas plasma sterilization and outline the possible mechanisms of action. Re...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - Category: Microbiology Source Type: blogs