Fungal sterilization via microwave atmospheric pen plasma (APP)
Abstract
This study tests the sterilization feasibility of the microwave atmospheric plasma pen (APP). Inoculated C. utilis and C. tropicalis suspensions were exposed to microwave atmospheric pen plasma using Ar/N2 gas and 250 W absorbed microwave power at various exposure time. Sterilization using the microwave APP is feasible and effective in reducing significant number of C. utilis and C. tropicalis colonies as revealed by microbial analysis using Decimal reduction time value (D-value). Images of the C. utilis cells before and after plasma sterilization were observed in the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).