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.