Investigation of disinfection regrowth potential assessment of non-thermal plasma on surface materials: A comparative study

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) presents a promising technique for surface disinfection and microbial decontamination. This study explores NTP's effectiveness on three surface materials—aluminum, glass, and acrylic—by comparing disinfection performance under identical treatment conditions. This investigation introduces the first-ever regrowth potential assessment, evaluating the regrowth of microbes post-NTP treatment. The research examines in depth mechanisms of regrowth and the factors influencing it, utilizing characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)-attenuated total reflectance (ATR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurements. The results contribute to the assessment of microbial regrowth potential, providing an informative reference for evaluating the duration of NTP disinfection and helping to improve its practical application. • Evaluates material-dependent NTP disinfection on aluminum, glass, and acrylic surfaces. • Introduces microbial regrowth potential assessment post-NTP treatment. • Highlights hydrophilicity's role in biofilm formation and microbial recovery. • Demonstrates tailored NTP parameters to enhance disinfection while protecting surfaces. • Advances NTP's sustainable application for real-world disinfection challenges.