Antiseptic Effects and Biosafety of a Controlled-Flow Electrolyzed Acid Solution Involve Electrochemical Properties, Rather than Free Radical Presence

Electrolyzed acid solutions produced by different methods have antiseptic properties due to the presence of chlorine and reactive oxygen species. Our aim was to determine whether a controlled-flow electrolyzed acid solution (CFEAS) has the ability to improve wound healing due to its antiseptic and antibiofilm properties. First, we demonstrated in vitro that Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to CFEAS, and the effect was partially sustained for 24 h, evidencing antibiofilm activity (p < 0.05, CFEAS-treated vs. controls). The partial cytotoxicity of CFEAS was mainly observed in macrophages after 6 h of treatment; meanwhile, fibroblasts resisted short-lived free radicals (p < 0.05, CFEAS treated vs. controls), perhaps through redox-regulating mechanisms. In addition, we observed that a single 24 h CFEAS treatment of subacute and chronic human wounds diminished the CFU/g of tissue by ten times (p < 0.05, before vs. after) and removed the biofilm that was adhered to the wound, as we observed via histology from transversal sections of biopsies obtained before and after CFEAS treatment. In conclusion, the electrolyzed acid solution, produced by a novel method that involves a controlled flow, preserves the antiseptic and antibiofilm properties observed in other, similar formulas, with the advantage of being safe for eukaryotic cells; meanwhile, the antibiofilm activity is sustained for 24 h, both in vitro and in vivo.

Automated summary

A controlled-flow electrolyzed acid solution (CFEAS) was found to have excellent antiseptic and antibiofilm properties. In vitro experiments showed that CFEAS can kill both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and inhibit biofilm formation for 24 hours. Cytotoxicity tests demonstrated that CFEAS has minimal toxic effects on macrophages and good tolerance in fibroblasts. Clinical trials showed that a 24-hour CFEAS treatment significantly reduced bacterial colonization and removed biofilms from wounds.