Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment of Fungal Spores

Fungal infections pose significant threats to human health, livestock, and crops. While antifungal compounds are commonly used, there are concerns about their health and environmental impacts. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) is being explored for its potential to inhibit microbial growth but its application in controlling fungal growth remains underexplored. In this study, we investigate the effects of CAPP on fungal spores using an atmospheric plasma jet driven by kHz high-voltage. Our objective is to determine whether CAPP can effectively inhibit fungal growth on agar plates. Spores were suspended in water during treatment to prevent scattering from the plasma jet's gas flow. We also treated pure water with CAPP and later mixed it with spores to assess the differences between direct plasma treatment and treatment with plasma-activated water. The study examines treatment duration, carrier gas type, and feed-gas humidity to evaluate their impact on fungal colony formation. Preliminary observations indicate that varying these parameters may significantly influence antifungal efficacy. We present the design and preliminary outcomes of treating fungal spores with CAPP.