Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral Biofilms

The objective of this study was an assessment of the anti-biofilm properties of fluoride non-thermal atmospheric plasma (FNTAP) generated using argon and hydrocarbon fluoride gas 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (TFE). These properties were evaluated by measuring the destruction and recovery of in vitro du...

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Main Authors: Anushri Warang, Isha Deol, Sarah Fakher, Linfeng Wu, Liang Hong, Shaoping Zhang, Qingsong Yu, Hongmin Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Functional Biomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/4/132
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author Anushri Warang
Isha Deol
Sarah Fakher
Linfeng Wu
Liang Hong
Shaoping Zhang
Qingsong Yu
Hongmin Sun
author_facet Anushri Warang
Isha Deol
Sarah Fakher
Linfeng Wu
Liang Hong
Shaoping Zhang
Qingsong Yu
Hongmin Sun
author_sort Anushri Warang
collection DOAJ
description The objective of this study was an assessment of the anti-biofilm properties of fluoride non-thermal atmospheric plasma (FNTAP) generated using argon and hydrocarbon fluoride gas 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (TFE). These properties were evaluated by measuring the destruction and recovery of in vitro dual-species biofilms of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> and <i>Streptococcus sanguinis</i> exposed to FNTAP at 5 or 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) or argon non-thermal atmospheric plasma (ArNTAP) for 1 or 2 min, using resazurin-based reagent viability assays, colony forming units (CFU), culture media pH and live/dead staining. Both ArNTAP and FNTAP resulted in significant immediate reductions in bacterial load as compared to the control. Although ArNTAP did not significantly reduce biofilm regrowth, FNTAP treatment showed a bacterial load reduction of more than 5 log units of biofilm regrowth. FNTAP treatments significantly reduced the acidification of the culture medium after recovery incubation, indicating reduced living bacteria, with a pH of 6.92 ± 0.02 and 6.90 ± 0.03, respectively, for the 5 sccm and 10 sccm FNTAP treatments, as compared to a pH of 5.83 ± 0.26 for the ArNTAP treatment, and a significantly acidic pH of 4.76 ± 0.04 for the no-treatment groups. Our results suggest that FNTAP has exceptional anti-biofilm effects, and future directions of our research include the assessment of potential applications of FNTAP in clinical settings.
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spelling doaj-art-a9cc0df542b345ef95523070e75fed5d2025-08-20T02:28:23ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832025-04-0116413210.3390/jfb16040132Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral BiofilmsAnushri Warang0Isha Deol1Sarah Fakher2Linfeng Wu3Liang Hong4Shaoping Zhang5Qingsong Yu6Hongmin Sun7Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USADepartment of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University, Dallas, TX 75246, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University, Dallas, TX 75246, USADepartment of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USADepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USAThe objective of this study was an assessment of the anti-biofilm properties of fluoride non-thermal atmospheric plasma (FNTAP) generated using argon and hydrocarbon fluoride gas 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (TFE). These properties were evaluated by measuring the destruction and recovery of in vitro dual-species biofilms of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> and <i>Streptococcus sanguinis</i> exposed to FNTAP at 5 or 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) or argon non-thermal atmospheric plasma (ArNTAP) for 1 or 2 min, using resazurin-based reagent viability assays, colony forming units (CFU), culture media pH and live/dead staining. Both ArNTAP and FNTAP resulted in significant immediate reductions in bacterial load as compared to the control. Although ArNTAP did not significantly reduce biofilm regrowth, FNTAP treatment showed a bacterial load reduction of more than 5 log units of biofilm regrowth. FNTAP treatments significantly reduced the acidification of the culture medium after recovery incubation, indicating reduced living bacteria, with a pH of 6.92 ± 0.02 and 6.90 ± 0.03, respectively, for the 5 sccm and 10 sccm FNTAP treatments, as compared to a pH of 5.83 ± 0.26 for the ArNTAP treatment, and a significantly acidic pH of 4.76 ± 0.04 for the no-treatment groups. Our results suggest that FNTAP has exceptional anti-biofilm effects, and future directions of our research include the assessment of potential applications of FNTAP in clinical settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/4/132fluoridebiofilms<i>Streptococcus mutans</i><i>Streptococcus sanguinis</i>dental cariesnon-thermal atmospheric plasma
spellingShingle Anushri Warang
Isha Deol
Sarah Fakher
Linfeng Wu
Liang Hong
Shaoping Zhang
Qingsong Yu
Hongmin Sun
Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral Biofilms
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
fluoride
biofilms
<i>Streptococcus mutans</i>
<i>Streptococcus sanguinis</i>
dental caries
non-thermal atmospheric plasma
title Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral Biofilms
title_full Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral Biofilms
title_fullStr Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral Biofilms
title_full_unstemmed Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral Biofilms
title_short Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma Enhances Biological Effects of Fluoride on Oral Biofilms
title_sort non thermal atmospheric plasma enhances biological effects of fluoride on oral biofilms
topic fluoride
biofilms
<i>Streptococcus mutans</i>
<i>Streptococcus sanguinis</i>
dental caries
non-thermal atmospheric plasma
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/4/132
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