Ken Cornell, a biochemist, and Jim Browning, an electrical engineer, announced on Apr. 17 their development of a new technology designed to break down stubborn bacterial biofilms using cold atmospheric pressure plasma. The innovation was developed at Boise State University after ten years of collaboration between the two researchers.
Biofilms are protective layers created by bacteria that can make infections difficult to treat and contribute to problems in medical settings and food production. In medicine, these films can prevent wounds such as bedsores or diabetic ulcers from healing because antibiotics cannot penetrate the slime barrier. In the food industry, biofilms stick to equipment like conveyor belts and pipes, leading to contamination and waste.
The device created by Cornell and Browning uses plasma—a highly energized state of matter—to generate reactive species that disrupt biofilm structures quickly. “When you have gas, and you have electrons, an electric field will accelerate those electrons until they hit neutral gas,” Browning said. “If they have the right energy, an electron gets knocked off, and you get a discharge, like a controlled lightning bolt that creates reactive species which wouldn’t last very long in a liquid or a paste.” Cornell explained further: “This sandblaster creates molecules that physically etch through the protective biofilm while the device delivers nitric oxide, a signal for the body to grow new blood vessels and heal skin.”
While there is potential for use in wound care clinics in the future, current efforts focus on Idaho’s seed industry—valued at $750 million annually—which produces seeds for crops ranging from popcorn to onions. The team has scaled up their technology with support from Idaho State funding programs so it can sanitize moving conveyor belts in real-time without leaving chemical residues on seeds. “We’re developing technology that is practical, is going to be useful, and it adds essential economic value to our state,” Cornell said.
Cornell also noted regulatory advantages: “Some of the seeds you can’t sell them to Japan or the European Union because harsh antifungal coatings reduce their reach…and therefore their market value.” The residue-free treatment aims to open international markets previously closed due to chemical restrictions.
Cornell and Browning will present their work at Celebrating Innovations and Partnerships at The Junction—the university’s new hub for research collaborations—highlighting growing interest within both academic circles and local industries. Their project has received support from multiple organizations including Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM), Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Department of Agriculture NIFA grants.
Their partnership demonstrates how combining expertise across disciplines can result in solutions with wide-reaching impact.
