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This work focuses on the antimycotic effects of the plasma gun as a potential tool for the treatment of superficial infections. Candida glabrata was chosen as a model microorganism. The preliminary tests have been done on the agar plates to establish the basic plasma parameters. To render this research more appropriate to the real application, more complex inoculation substrates, pork skin and 3D‐printed models of the dog ear canal have been used. The results of this work confirm the high efficiency of cold plasma in the inhibition of yeasts on different surfaces and will lead to further experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and proton‐transfer‐reaction–mass spectrometry are used in a complementary way to study gas‐phase processes during decomposition of ethanol in a microwave plasma torch. Decomposition products (C, C2 and simple hydrocarbons) reassemble into higher hydrocarbons and graphene nuclei and further grow into graphene nanosheets (GNS). Depending on microwave power, ethanol flow rate and molecular gas admixture, the material structure changes from amorphous to crystalline. The presence of C2n + 1Hy species was found to be responsible for the formation of defects in the GNS structure. O2 and H2 admixtures change the gas temperature axial profile and consequently modify reaction pathways influencing growth and production rate of GNS. Determination of reaction pathway selectivity enables us to predict whether high‐quality or defective GNS are produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: A cold gaseous plasma torch generated in argon at low powers and atmospheric pressure is applicable in medicinal treatment where it could significantly decrease microbial skin or tissue contamination in a short time and with low operating costs. Recently, various cold plasma sources have been tested for their bactericidal and fungicidal effects with respect to their application in medicine and agriculture. The purpose of this work is to study the effects of a 2.45 GHz microwave generated plasma torch on a model yeast example Candida glabrata. The microwave plasma was generated by a surfatron resonator, and pure argon at a constant flow rate of 5 Slm was used as a working gas. Thanks to a high number of active particles generated in low-temperature plasma, this type of plasma has become highly popular, especially thanks to its bactericidal effects. However, its antimycotic effects and mechanisms of fungal inactivation are still not fully understood. Therefore, this study focuses on the antifungal effects of the microwave discharge on Candida glabrata. The main focus is on the measurement and evaluation of changes in inactivation effects caused by varying initial concentration of Candida glabrata cells, applied microwave power and exposure time. The discharge was applied on freshly inoculated colonies of Candida glabrata spread on the agar plates and its inhibitory effects were observed in the form of inhibition zones formed after the subsequent cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]