Low-Temperature Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Assisted Therapy for Onychomycosis

Abstract

This study evaluates an argon low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ) combined with medication for the treatment of onychomycosis. Plasma characterization confirmed operation below 25°C, indicating biomedical suitability. Using Candida albicans cultured on bovine hoof models, APPJ exposure achieved an approximately 1-log reduction in colony counts within 2 min. For embedded infections, plasma treatment, medication alone, and combined therapies were compared. The combined plasma–medication approach significantly reduced yeast burden in moderately infected samples (p ≤ 0.05) and showed superior antimicrobial efficacy in mildly infected specimens compared with medication alone (p ≤ 0.01). Plasma-assisted drug permeation experiments further demonstrated complete penetration through the specimen, reaching the bottom at approximately 200 µm depth.