Antibacterial effect of cold atmospheric plasma for treatment of bacterial keratitis in an animal model.
Majid Kadkhodaie1 , Mohsen Ghiasi2 , Abolfazl Mazandarani3 , Seyed-Hashem Daryabari4 , Hossein Aghamollaei5 *, Shokoufeh Rafati6
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
- Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Chemical Injures Research Center. Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Iran university of medical sciences
Abstract: Keratitis is one of the most common eye diseases, especially in developing countries. The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance requires the development of new treatment options for bacterial infections. Cold atmosphere plasma contains highly energetic species such as free radicals, electrons, positive and negative ions, atoms and excited molecules that can inactivate microorganisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of cold atmospheric plasma for treatment of bacterial keratitis in an animal model.
Methods: The present study was performed on two common bacteria that cause eye infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were first cultured on LB agar medium and then treated with cold atmospheric plasma for 5, 7, and 10 minutes. For in vivo study 106 CFU of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was injected into the corneal stroma of 9 New Zealand male rabbits. In the plasma group, rabbits were treated with cold plasma for 7 minutes in 2 days and the other group was treated with antibiotics. The rabbits were examined and photographed daily.
Results: After 7 min exposure to plasma, all bacteria were killed in the culture medium. The rabbits’ eyes which were treated with plasma were clear without any significant complications. The mean CFU in rabbit's cornea was significantly reduced in plasma-treated and antibiotics groups than in non-treated rabbits. (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Cold atmospheric plasma is safe and effective for the treatment of bacterial keratitis induced by P. aeruginosa. . Investigating its synergistic effect with traditional antibiotics can be evaluated in future studies.
