Materials for Disinfection Produced by Non-Thermal Plasma

Abstract

Aspects of the present subject matter are directed to a method comprising contacting an fluid, optionally containing an added organic material, with a non-thermal plasma to form a disinfection composition, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid, and contacting a surface with the disinfection composition, wherein the surface is at least partially disinfected upon contact with the disinfection composition. Additional aspects of the present subject matter are directed to a method comprising forming a disinfection composition by contacting an organic material with a non-thermal plasma, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid. A further aspect of the present subject matter is directed to a disinfection composition comprising an organic material contacted by a non-thermal plasma, wherein the disinfection composition is a liquid.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A device for at least partially disinfecting a human body part, comprising:
 a power supply for generating a plasma;   a plasma-treating chamber in which a fluid and plasma can be introduced to form a disinfection composition;   a disinfection chamber for contacting a human body part or medical device with the disinfection composition, wherein the human body part is at least partially disinfected upon contact with the disinfection composition.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plasma is a dielectric barrier discharge, a corona discharge, or a pulsed corona discharge, ark, spark, gliding arc, radio frequency discharge, microwave discharge or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plasma may be of different type applied at different times and in different locations. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma is a non-thermal plasma having an intensity of at least about 0.1 J/cm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the said fluid is in the form of an aerosol or mist. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water, saline, phosphate buffer composition, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises ethanol or isopropanol. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid contains an organic material. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the organic material comprises an amino acid, anti-oxidant, and/or an alginate gel. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the organic material comprises N-Acetyl Cysteine. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the organic material is dissolved in the fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the organic material in the disinfection composition is at a concentration of at least about 2.5 mM. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device comprises intravenous tubing, heplocks, intravenous catheters, a nebulizer, and urinary catheters. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the human body part is a hand, arm, or portion thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is contacted with the disinfection composition remote from the plasma. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma-treating chamber is spatially separate from the disinfection chamber, and the two chambers are in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma-treating chamber and the disinfection chamber are the same chamber, and the device is configured to form the disinfection composition before allowing contact of the disinfection with the human body part or medical device.