Title: A Novel Plasma Treatment System for Disinfection of Pharmaceutical Products
1A Novel Plasma Treatment System for Disinfection
of Pharmaceutical Products
- Eoin Byrne
- Dublin Institute of Technology
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health
- Supervisors Dr. Vasilis Valdramidis and Dr. PJ
Cullen
Dr. Kevin Keener
Dr. J.P. Mosnier, J. Connolly
2Outline
- Introduction
- Disinfection
- Plasma
- PK-1 Device
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
3Disinfection
- Removal of microbes from inanimate surface
- Used in water processing, food and pharmaceutical
industries - Most types of non-sterile products are not
disinfected before packaging
4Plasma
- Ionised Gas
- Fourth state of matter
- Highly Conductive
- Constitutes 99 of the universe although limited
occurrence on Earth
5Types of Plasma
- Thermal (Hot) Plasma
- Non-thermal (Cold) Plasma
- Can be generated in atmospheric conditions
- Generation of non-thermal plasma
- Radio Frequency
- Microwave Frequency
- Dielectric Barrier Discharge
- Type of gases
- Helium gas
- Nitrogen/Oxygen Mixtures
6Plasma
- Mode of Microbial Inactivation
- Production of radical species
- Production of ultraviolet light
- Physical damage to microbial cell
Scanning electron micrograph image of E. coli
after plasma treatment (X10,000)
7PK-1 Device
- PK-1 is a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Device
- Previously demonstrated microbial inactivation in
food treatment - Application for in-package treatment
- Uses two electrodes coated with PVC
- Low power consumption
8Objectives
- Investigate the effect of plasma on microbial
resistance - Assess the microbial survival during storage
- Investigate the effect on microbial inactivation
of helium and air
9Methodology
1.
2.
3.
Surface inoculation of agar-agar plates and
placement in plastic bags
Inoculum preparation (18 hours)
Centrifugation (X3 10,000 rpm)
4.
5.
Plasma treatment 5min ? storage _at_ 1.5, 3, 18, 21
and 24 hours
Serial dilutions and plating on TSA agar followed
by incubation at 37oC/48 hours
10Methodology Step 3
- Agar-agar plates inoculated with Listeria innocua
- Samples placed into plastic resealable bags and
filled with helium gas or air
11Methodology Step 4
Diagram of the in-package system during plasma
treatment
12Methodology an example
Example of plasma streaming during treatment of
an apple
13Plasma diagnostics
Optical emission spectrum of air/helium DBD
plasma measured under low resolution conditions
ICCD images of air/helium plasma in a dielectric
barrier discharge
14Results
Effect of helium generated plasma
Effect of air generated plasma
15Results
Graph showing log reduction of L. innocua after
plasma treatment using air
16Results
Graph showing log reduction of L. innocua after
plasma treatment using helium
17Discussion
- Difference between the consistency of the plasma
treatment using helium or air - Most microbial inactivation occurred within 1.5
hours - A 2 log reduction in the population of
- L. innocua using the PK-1 device is possible
18Conclusion
- The PK-1 device is capable of microbial
inactivation after packaging - Helium produces a more consistent inactivation
curve during plasma treatment than air - The PK-1 system has potential in pharmaceutical
industry
19A Novel Plasma Treatment System for Disinfection
of Pharmaceutical Products
- Eoin Byrne
- Dublin Institute of Technology
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health
- Supervisors Dr. Vasilis Valdramidis and Dr. PJ
Cullen
Dr. Kevin Keener
Dr. J.P. Mosnier, J. Connolly