Photochemical Closed-Loop Ozone-Generating System for Medicine Application

Abstract

This article introduces a cutting-edge device that could potentially be used to therapy of septic wounds in prospect. The circulation of ozonized air with concentrations of up to 60 ppm provided under a hermetic ozonation application chamber. Subsequently, this air stream is directed to an ozone reactor for re-ozonation. To ensure both the secure fixation of the ozonation chamber to a surface and to prevent ozone leakage it is pressurized below atmospheric pressure, thereby in addition creating a vacuum therapy effect which contributes to the effectiveness of the treatment. Ozone is generated by irradiation of atmospheric air at a wavelength of 172 nm, which eliminates of toxic nitrogen oxides production, as it happens in gas-discharge ozonators. The device has undergone in vitro testing for the ozonation of various strains of bacteria and fungi. Leveraging its potential oxidizing capacity, pathogenic culture colonies were entirely killed within a 3-min treatment process. It has also been shown, that under in vitro conditions, short-term medium-mediated ozonation inducing reversible oxidative stress has a positive effect on proliferative activity and adhesion ability in eukaryotic mesenchymal cells. Depending on ozone concentration, duration and exposure conditions, the diverse effects of ozone, establish a foundation for potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of various diseases.