Terminal sterilization: Conventional methods versus emerging cold atmospheric pressure plasma technology for non‐viable biological tissues

Tissue products are susceptible to microbial contamination from different sources, which may cause disease transmission upon transplantation. Terminal sterilization using gamma radiation, electron-beam, and ethylene oxide protocols are well established and accepted, however, such methods have known...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nagi M. Marsit, Laura E. Sidney, Matthew J. Branch, Sammy Wilson, Andrew Hopkinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cold plasma
Dielectric barrier discharge
Mechanical engineering not elsewhere classified
Plasma treatment
Sterilization
Tissue engineering
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Tissue products are susceptible to microbial contamination from different sources, which may cause disease transmission upon transplantation. Terminal sterilization using gamma radiation, electron-beam, and ethylene oxide protocols are well established and accepted, however, such methods have known disadvantages associated with compromised tissue integrity, functionality, safety, complex logistics, availability, and cost. Non-thermal (cold) atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) is an emerging technology that has several biomedical applications including sterilization of tissues, and the potential to surpass current terminal sterilization techniques. This review discusses the limitations of conventional terminal sterilization technologies for biological materials, and highlights the benefits of utilizing CAP.