NYMC Faculty Publications

Non-thermal Atmospheric Plasma Treatment of Onychomycosis in an In Vitro Human Nail Model

DOI

10.1111/myc.13030

Journal Title

Mycoses

First Page

225

Last Page

232

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2020

Department

Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis affects almost 6% of the world population. Topical azoles and systemic antifungal agents are of low efficacy and can have undesirable side effects. An effective, non-invasive therapy for onychomycosis is an unmet clinical need.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the efficacy threshold of non-thermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) to treat onychomycosis in an in vitro model.

METHODS: A novel toe/nail-plate model using cadaver nails and agarose media inoculated with Candida albicans was exposed to a range of NTAP doses.

RESULTS: Direct exposure of C albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes to 12 minutes of NTAP results in complete killing at doses of 39 and 15 kPulses, respectively. Onset of reduced viability of C albicans to NTAP treatment through the nail plate occurs at 64 kPulses with 10× and 100× reduction at 212 and 550 kPulses, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: NTAP is an effective, non-invasive therapeutic approach to onychomycosis that should be evaluated in a clinical setting.

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