Researchers developed a plasma-activated hydrogel from plasma-activated water to retain reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and improve application to irregular surfaces, evaluating chemistry, shelf life and in-vitro inhibition of S. aureus.
Key findings
- The 3:5 gel ratio with 20-minute plasma treatment yielded ORP 278.90 mV, EC 263.75 µS/cm, pH 5.325 and H₂O₂ 29.38 ppm. The hydrogel retained about 10.6 ppm H₂O₂ after four refrigerated weeks and reduced S. aureus by approximately 9.5 log₁₀ CFU/mL under assay conditions.
Why this matters globally
The material could become a topical antimicrobial platform for veterinary or wound surfaces if cytotoxicity, stability, reactive-species dosing and comparative efficacy are established.
Thai researcher contribution
Kochakon Moonsub, Phisit Seesuriyachan and corresponding author Wassanai Wattanutchariya of Chiang Mai University developed the material and process.
Limitations to consider
This is formulation and in-vitro bacterial testing, without animal wounds, normal-cell cytotoxicity, irritation, biofilm, diverse pathogens or standard-treatment comparison. “Chemical-free” is potentially misleading because activity comes from RONS and H₂O₂ that require dose control.