Synergistic antibacterial effects of low temperature plasma combined with pulsed electric fields

Low temperature plasmas and pulsed electric fields (PEF) can both be used as non-thermal disinfection methods. However, both approaches are based on different underlying interaction mechanisms with biological cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are generally considered to be the most important agents for plasma-inactivation, and plasma induced oxidative stress is believed to cause cell damage and cell death accordingly 1 .