A Brief Note on the History of the Dielectric Barrier Discharge and Its Application for Biological Decontamination

The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is one of the most used low-temperature plasma sources. Its industrial and biomedical applications are numerous. In this article, first, the history of the development of the DBD is recounted and then its use in biomedical applications is discussed with a focus on biological decontamination. Recent events and challenges related to food contamination, chronic wound infections, rise in antibiotic resistance, and viral-driven pandemics have revealed the potential importance of this cold plasma application.