Inactivating bacterial endotoxin using low-temperature plasma

To explore the inactivation effect of low-temperature plasma on bacterial endotoxin, the dielectric barrier discharge was employed to generate the atmospheric low-temperature plasma to treat E.coli endotoxin. The model of endotoxic shock mice was used to detect the inactivation effect of low-temperature plasma on E.coli endotoxin. After being treated with low-temperature plasma for 30 s, 45 s and 60 s respectively, E.coli endotoxin was intraperitoneally injected to mice in the three experimental groups. Phosphate buffered saline was intraperitoneally injected to every mouse of the negative control group; E.coli endotoxin untreated with low-temperature plasma was intraperitoneally injected to every mouse in the positive control group. Then the survival of the mice of each group was observed, and the survival time and the weight of every mouse was recorded. The whole observation lasted 120 hours. During the observation, no mouse in the negative control group died, while all mice in the positive control group died. Compared with the positive control group, the mean survival time of mice in the experimental group was obviously longer. With the extension of exposure time, the mean survival time and the mean body weight of mice increased gradually. Results reveal that, low-temperature plasma can inactivate E.coli endotoxin, and with the longer treatment time, the activity could decrease more significantly.