Candida albicans biofilm inactivated by cold plasma treatment in vitro and in vivo

Fungal infections induced by Candida albicans have increased worldwide due to emerging resistance to antifungal agents, which is largely caused by biofilm formation. Thus, a new and effective antimicrobial strategy is urgently required in treatment of C. albicans biofilm-associated infections. In this study, the inactivation effects of cold plasma treatment for C. albicans biofilm are assessed in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies indicate that C. albicans in suspension and the C. albicans biofilm are inactivated significantly by plasma treatment. In vivo studies indicate that plasma treatment achieves the best antifungal effect with an optimal dose (4 min in this case), as excessive plasma treatment damages the normal tissues and thus induces aggravation of infection compared to the 4-min group.