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Cold plasma (CP) technology has emerged as a promising non-thermal method with diverse applications in the food industry, offering solutions to key challenges related to food safety, preservation, and quality enhancement. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted applications of CP technology, including microbial inactivation, improvement of plant-based protein digestibility, functional property enhancement, allergenicity reduction, and bioactive compound extraction. Through an examination of recent research findings, we explore the effectiveness of CP treatment in inhibiting microorganisms in various food products, extending shelf life, and preserving nutritional and functional qualities. Additionally, we highlight the potential of CP technology to enhance the digestibility of plant-based proteins by overcoming anti-nutritional factors and modifying protein structures. Furthermore, we discuss how CP treatment can improve the functional properties of proteins and reduce allergenicity, paving the way for the development of safer and more digestible plant-based protein products. Moreover, we examine the role of CP technology in the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials, showcasing its ability to disrupt plant cell walls and enhance extraction efficiency. Finally, we address regulatory considerations and the future outlook for CP technology in the food industry, emphasizing the need for continued research and development efforts to optimize its use while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Overall, CP technology holds significant promise for revolutionizing food processing and preservation, driving innovation, and meeting the evolving needs of consumers worldwide.

Atmospheric nonthermal plasma (ANTP) has rapidly evolved as an innovative tool in biomedicine with various applications, especially in treating skin diseases. In particular, the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), which are generated by ANTP, plays an important role in the biological signaling pathways of human cells. Unfortunately, excessive amounts of these reactive species significantly result in cellular damage and cell death induction. To ensure the safe application of ANTP, preclinical in vitro studies must be conducted before proceeding to in vivo or clinical trials involving humans. Our study aimed to investigate adverse effects on genetic substances in murine fibroblast cells exposed to ANTP. Cell viability and proliferation were markedly reduced after exposing the cells with plasma. Both extracellular and intracellular reactive species, especially RNS, were significantly increased upon plasma exposure in the culture medium and the cells. Notably, significant DNA damage in the cells was observed in the cells exposed to plasma. However, plasma was not classified as a mutagen in the Ames test. This suggested that plasma led to the generation of both extracellular and intracellular reactive species, particularly nitrogen species, which affect cell proliferation and are also known to induce genetic damage in fibroblast cells. These results highlight the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of ANTP, emphasizing the need for the cautious selection of plasma intensity in specific applications to avoid adverse side effects resulting from reactive species production.

Complex multilayer film structures were fabricated through a custom-built angular DC magnetron co-sputtering system. In this system, separate Cu, Al, and brass (Cu + Zn) targets were mounted on three magnetron guns, working in conjunction with a rotating substrate. This study aimed to compare the properties of films with intricate structures, which were sputtered onto glass slides and polypropylene substrates. The sputtering process was optimized using a Box–Behnken design, considering three variable operating conditions: substrate rotation speed, sputtering time, and sputtering voltage. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results for film thickness and roughness, sputtered with three different materials onto glass slides and polypropylene (PP) substrates, indicated that all three independent variables significantly influenced the optimum response, with P-values less than 0.05 (

Abstract The Pradu Hang Dam chicken, a Thai Native Chicken (TNCs) breed, plays an important role in many regions of Thailand because of its chewiness. However, there are some challenges with Thai Native Chicken, such as low production and slow growth rates. Therefore, this research investigates the efficiency of cold plasma technology in enhancing the production and growth rates of TNCs. First, this paper presents the embryonic development and hatch of fertile (HoF) values of treated fertilized eggs. Chicken performance indices, such as feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and serum growth hormone measurement, were calculated to assess chicken development. Furthermore, the potential of cost reduction was evaluated by calculating return over feed cost (ROFC). Finally, the quality aspects of chicken breast meat, including color, pH value, weight loss, cooking loss, shear force, and texture profile analysis, were investigated to evaluate cold plasma technology's impact on chicken meat. The results demonstrated that the production rate of male Pradu Hang Dam chickens (53.20%) was higher than females (46.80%). Moreover, cold plasma technology did not significantly affect chicken meat quality. According to the average return over feed cost calculation, the livestock industry could reduce feeding costs by approximately 17.42% in male chickens. Therefore, cold plasma technology is beneficial to the poultry industry to improve production and growth rates and reduce costs while being safe and environmentally friendly.

Water, soil, and food products contain pesticide residues. These residues result from excessive pesticides use, motivated by the fact that agricultural productivity can be increased by the use of these pesticides. The accumulation of these residues in the body can cause health problems, leading to food safety concerns. Cold plasma technology has been successfully employed in various applications, such as seed germination, bacterial inactivation, wound disinfection, surface sterilization, and pesticide degradation. In recent years, researchers have increasingly explored the effectiveness of cold plasma technology in the degradation of pesticide residues. Most studies have shown promising outcomes, encouraging further research and scaling-up for commercialization. This review summarizes the use of cold plasma as an emerging technology for pesticide degradation in terms of the plasma system and configuration. It also outlines the key findings in this area. The most frequently adopted plasma systems for each application are identified, and the mechanisms underlying pesticide degradation using cold plasma technology are discussed. The possible factors influencing pesticide degradation efficiency, challenges in research, and future trends are also discussed. This review demonstrates that despite the nascent nature of the technology, the use of cold plasma shows considerable potential in regards to pesticide residue degradation, particularly in food applications.

This research aimed to understand the use of air gliding arc (GA) plasma to generate plasma-activated water (PAW) for fixing nitrogen in water and the chemical properties of PAW on the germination of rice seeds. The N2, NO, and OH molecules in GA plasma led to NO3−, NO2−, and H2O2 formation in the PAW. The NO3−, NO2−, and H2O2 contents in PAW rapidly decreased after 5 days of storage. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomised design using GA plasma discharged above the surface of deionised (DI) water with different airflow rates (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 L/min) compared to the control (DI water). The NO3− and NO2− contents increased, resulting in an increase in total nitrogen (N) and gibberellic acid (GA3) accumulation in rice seeds. The PAW at an airflow rate of 5 L/min was optimal for enhancing radicle emergence at 48 and 72 h, germination, germination index, shoot length, fresh weight, and dry weight of seedlings. Therefore, air GA plasma to generate PAW is an efficient method for producing nitrogen in a soluble form, which can support the germination processes and early growth of rice seedlings.

Cercospora leaf spot disease is a serious problem for lettuce cultivation worldwide. Cercospora lactucae-sativa, the causative agent of leaf spot disease on lettuce, was treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure gliding arc (GA), tesla coil (TC) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasmas for the in vitro fungal inactivation of both mycelial growth and conidial germination. The fungus was exposed to the three plasmas individually for 5, 10, 15 and 20 min. The results showed that DBD plasma inactivated fungal growth during all exposure periods, and the highest inhibitory effect was caused by exposure to DBD plasma for 20 min, at 93.33% inhibition. The germination of fungal conidia was completely inactivated after exposure to all three non-thermal plasmas for 5 min, as observed 4 and 24 h after incubation. The pathogenesis of C. lactucae-sativa on lettuce after plasma treatments for 5 min was examined by spraying an inoculation of the treated conidia on lettuce. The results showed that all three plasmas reduced the disease incidence and severity compared to the non-treated control. Therefore, the non-thermal atmospheric pressure GA, TC and DBD plasmas have antifungal potential for the inactivation of C. lactucae-sativa, making them an interesting novel technology for plant disease control.

Athelia rolfsii is one of the most destructive and aggressive fungal pathogens worldwide and causes southern blight disease of lettuce. A nonthermal atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma has attracted interest as an alternative control method to chemical usage because of its antimicrobial activity. Exposure of A. rolfsii to DBD plasma for 5, 10, 15, and 20 min resulted in in vitro fungal inhibition of mycelial discs and sclerotia. The results showed that DBD plasma exposure for 10 min completely inhibited fungal growth of mycelial discs, whereas exposure for over 20 min was required to inhibit the hyphal growth of sclerotia. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of mycelia and sclerotia abnormalities revealed laceration and damage of both mycelia and sclerotia. In addition, disease incidence and severity were reduced in mycelial and sclerotia inoculation following DBD plasma exposure for 15 and 20 min, respectively, compared with the positive control. In conclusion, the DBD plasma demonstrates antifungal activity against A. rolfsii via inhibition of fungal growth and reduction in disease incidence and severity. Therefore, DBD plasma has the potential to be applied in controlling southern blight disease of lettuce.

A novel coaxial surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma device, driven by a 35.7-kHz DC pulse and adjustable by a pulse-width modulation, was developed in this study and preliminarily tested for its killing effects of a cancer cell type. This study was divided into three phases, namely, air phase, liquid phase, and cell phase. First, the electrical characteristics and emissions were examined. Two-beam UV-LED absorption spectroscopy was also newly developed to measure the absolute hydroxyl radical (OH⋅) density in the filamentary discharge. Then, the effects of energy doses and treatment durations on three types of liquids and on the colorectal adenocarcinoma cell, SW620, were examined. From Lissajous figures (Q–V plot), the developed SDBD possesses the maximum power density and energy dose of 0.33 ± 0.05 W/cm2 and 19.5 ± 3.00 J/cm2, respectively, when the voltage was set at 3.44 kV and the power at 115 mW. From two-beam UV-LED absorption spectroscopy results, the OH⋅ density increased by 0.32, 0.58, and 0.86 × 1019 m−3, with operational powers of 29, 58, and 115 mW, respectively, within 1-min treatment. In liquid phases, the plasma device can increase the concentrations of H2O2 and NO2− in a time-dependent manner. Finally, cell-phase studies, including the examination of the cell morphology, cell viability, and gene expression of the SW620 cell, show that the device can time-dependently induce the mortality of the SW620 cell, relevant to the up-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio. Taken together, this novel SDBD plasma device shows potential as another alternative for cancer treatment, although further modification is required.

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is being developed for a wide-range of medical applications such as improvement of wound healing, elimination of infective microorganisms, and treatment of cancer. This study investigated the effect of culture medium exposed to NTP on the proliferation in-vitro of skin fibroblasts from Asian elephants. Dulbecco"s Modified Eagle"s Medium (DMEM) was used as culture medium and was exposed to NTP with three different intensities. The NTP reactive species Nitrite (NO2-) was measured in the treated medium before addition to cells. Fibroblasts were incubated for 24 h with NTP-treated complete medium supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and 1% antibiotic/antimycotic. Cell proliferation, the number of cells and viability rate were analysed using flow cytometry 24, 48 and 72 h after the start of the incubation. The proliferation rate of fibroblasts incubated with NTP treated medium was significantly higher (P

Plasma activated water (PAW) generated from pinhole plasma jet using gas mixtures of argon (Ar) and 2% oxygen (O2) was evaluated for pesticide degradation and microorganism decontamination (i.e., Escherichia coli and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) in chili (Capsicum annuum L.). A flow rate of 10 L/min produced the highest concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 369 mg/L. Results showed that PAW treatment for 30 min and 60 min effectively degrades carbendazim and chlorpyrifos by about 57% and 54% in solution, respectively. In chili, carbendazim and chlorpyrifos were also decreased, to a major extent, by 80% and 65% after PAW treatment for 30 min and 60 min, respectively. E. coli populations were reduced by 1.18 Log CFU/mL and 2.8 Log CFU/g with PAW treatment for 60 min in suspension and chili, respectively. Moreover, 100% of inhibition of fungal spore germination was achieved with PAW treatment. Additionally, PAW treatment demonstrated significantly higher efficiency (p < 0.05) in controlling Anthracnose in chili by about 83% compared to other treatments.

The plasma jet technique, a popular method for generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species through an inert gas (such as Ar) mixed with air, was investigated. A plasma jet model was developed from a selection of statistical data, and the resulting NO, OH, and H2O2 concentrations were examined. The objective of the study was to establish a simple 2D plasma jet module and to mathematically understand the involved chemical reactions through the Multiphysics (finite element method) program. Determination of optimized conditions via the design of experiment method was performed. To create new responses, three nominal concentrations (NO, OH, and H2O2) were used to measure the performance of the species product. A full factorial design based on two levels, or 23 runs, with three central points and two replications was employed in the simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3a software. The main effects and interactions between the variables were identified for three main parameters: gas velocities of 40–70 m/s, plasma gaps of 10–30 mm, and simulation times of 2.8–4 ms. These parameters were selected to unravel design possibilities with external variables, which can significantly contribute to the process of designing a prototype of a cell-scaled plasma jet model.

A compact low-temperature plasma jet device was developed to use ambient air as plasma gas. The device was driven by a 2.52-kV high-voltage direct-current pulse in a burst mode, with a repetition rate of 2 kHz. The maximum plasma discharge current was 3.5 A, with an approximately 10 ns full-width half-maximum. Nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical, atomic oxygen, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide—important reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS)—were mainly produced. The amount of plasma-generated RONS can be controlled by varying the pulse-modulation factors. After optimization, the plasma plume length was approximately 5 mm and the treatment temperature was less than 40 °C. The preliminary bactericidal effects were tested on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and their biofilms. The results showed that the plasma can effectively inactivate S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and MRSA in both time- and pulse-dependent manner. Thus, this produced plasma device proved to be an efficient tool for inactivating deteriorating bacteria. Further versatile utilization of this portable plasma generator is also promising.