Electro-technology evolution for microbial inactivation at ROLEST: From pulsed power to high intensity narrow spectrum light (HINS-light)

The Pulsed Power Research group was established in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Strathclyde University in the early 1990s. The main research focus of this group was on high-speed electrical breakdown of gaseous and liquid insulating systems, repetitively controlled high-speed switching and compact, repetitively-rated modulators. The group accumulated significant experience and expertise in these areas which stimulated intensive development of new practical applications of pulsed power and plasma technologies including the plasma treatment of liquids for sterilisation purposes and pulsed electric field and pulsed UV inactivation of microbial pathogens. As a result of this growing interdisciplinary activity in the field of electrical sterilisation and decontamination, The Roberson Trust Laboratory for Electronic Sterilisation Technologies (ROLEST) was opened in 2003. This unique research facility allows electrical engineers and bioscience researchers to work together on the development of innovative approaches to bio-decontamination and sterilisation.This presentation will review the early work of the group and how this led to one of the most promising technologies discovered at ROLEST, High Intensity Narrow Spectrum Light (HINS-light). This visible violet light treatment provides an effective new way of controlling pathogenic microorganisms including MRSA and Clostridium in clinical and healthcare environments. The HINS-light mechanism of action is based on the photodynamic inactivation effect and extensive results have shown that this approach can be used for a wide range of bio-decontamination and disinfection applications including the continuous treatment of sensitive areas in hospitals such as clinical burns units, vascular wards and intensive care facilities, as well as for the disinfection of delicate medical instruments. The HINS-light technology has opened up a completely new approach to tackling the serious and intransigent pr- blem of hospital acquired infections.