NYMC Faculty Publications
Non-thermal Atmospheric Plasma Treatment of Onychomycosis in an In Vitro Human Nail Model
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.
Recommended Citation
Bulson, J. M., Liveris, D., Derkatch, I., Friedman, G., Geliebter, J., Park, S., Singh, S., Zemel, M., & Tiwari, R. K. (2020). Non-thermal Atmospheric Plasma Treatment of Onychomycosis in an In Vitro Human Nail Model. Mycoses, 63 (2), 225-232. https://doi.org/10.1111/myc.13030
