Inactivation effects of the mist nebulized with plasma-activated air on Pseudomonas aeruginosa through the simulated respiratory tract

Plasma-based technology has been widely applied in the biomedicine, agriculture, and environmental fields. In this study, a new application mode, namely plasma-activated nebulized mist (PANM) was proposed. The saline was nebulized by the plasma-activated air to form a mist, and the inactivation effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa were analyzed based on the simulated respiratory tract. The PANM through the simulated trachea with different lengths or diameters, and the branched once or twice simulated respiratory tract exhibited effective inactivation effects. The PANM through the combined simulated trachea and pig trachea could also inactivate the bacteria on the inner wall of the pig trachea. This study supplied a potent alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of respiratory tract infections.