Researchers from Australia’s Flinders University are using plasma technology to turn microalgae into ultrathin bioactive coatings.

Using argon atmospheric plasma jet technology, the team reportedly transformed the microalgae Spirulina maxima into bioactive coatings that promote wound healing, fight bacterial infections and apply anti-inflammatory properties.

Source: Flinders University

Further, the researchers suggest that the new approach may reduce the risk of toxic reactions to silver and various other nanoparticles as well as the growing antibiotic-resistance to common commercial coatings currently used in wound dressings.

“This new plasma-facilitated downstream processing can improve extraction and purification of useful compounds from biomass without the need for harmful solvents and a lot of energy input,” the Flinders team explained.

The process is detailed in the article “Transforming Spirulina maxima Biomass into Ultrathin Bioactive Coatings Using an Atmospheric Plasma Jet: A New Approach to Healing of Infected Wounds,” which appears in the journal Small.