Docx

is a process that is used to destroy unwanted microorganisms on the surface of a member. Conventional sterilization methods may be categorized into heat sterilization (use of saturated pressurized steam, autoclaving or dry heat), gaseous chemical sterilization (using ethylene oxide, EtO, ozone, orformaldehyde), irradiation sterilization (using electromagnetic, particle, ultraviolet irradiation source), and filtration sterilization methods.1, 2 Each of these conventional sterilization methods has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Heat sterilization is usually employed to kill bacteria, viable spores, and viruses in heat resistant materials. But heat sterilization is an extremely time-consuming process and is not suitable for articles made of heat sensitive materials such as plastics and fabrics. Gaseous chemical sterilization is capable of sterilizing at low temperature but is limited by its use of highly toxic gases. Irradiation sterilization may cause undesirable changes in materials and must be used with caution to avoid dispersing problem. Both chemical sterilization and irradiation sterilization require professionally well-trained personnel to operate, and the cost of operation is high. Strictly speaking, filtration is not a sterilization process because it cannot destroy or remove all microorganisms. For these reasons, there is a need to develop a safe, rapid, less expensive, environmental friendly sterilization method to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional sterilization processes.3

For sterilization of biomedical devices, low-temperature/low-pressure plasma technique, which utilizes reactive species (such as free atoms and energetic electrons) contained in the plasma, has been used as an alternative to the conventional sterilization methods discussed previously.4 Although this plasma technique has a high efficiency, it suffers from a number of drawbacks, such as being limited to low-pressure plasma, having a restricted plasma reactor...