The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a system involving ozonated water and ultrasound causes de-epithelization of the human amniotic membrane (HAM). The experiment protocol was carried out in four stages. Stage I was carried out to determine the duration of the experiment. Stage II comprised the first experiment, involving four groups of samples studied in triplicate: control/natural (IN), processed with ultrasound in a liquid medium (US), processed with ozonated water (O3), and processed with ozonated water combined with ultrasound (US_O3). Stage III was performed to confirm the results, following the same steps present in Stage II. Stage IV involved the use of oxygen to confirm the hypothesis. Histological analysis was carried out to verify whether the effects of O₂ were similar to those of O₃. The system was activated, and ozonation was carried out for 10 min, as in the previous experiment, reaching a concentration level of 3.0 mg/L. The samples were submerged and positioned in the reservoir and processed separately for 55 min. The biochemical properties were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the morphology was examined using histology and scanning electron microscopy. The spectra of the samples exhibited similarities; however, subtle changes were highlighted, such as smooth band shifts and intensity changes. The morphology indicated that ultrasound achieved more efficient HAM de-epithelialization compared to ultrasound combined with ozonated water and ozonated water alone. One plausible hypothesis for this observation is that cavitation represents the primary mechanism responsible for de-epithelialization. When ultrasound is combined with ozone, the bubbles generated by ozone gas reduce the cavitation effect. This study is pioneering as it demonstrates an ultrasound system capable of the efficient de-epithelialization of the HAM.

Objective: To develop an endoscope reprocessing system using ozonated water jets. Methods: The system features a jet head with concentric orifices that moves vertically to disinfect the external surface of the endoscope. Simultaneously, ozonated water is injected into the internal channel to ensure complete disinfection. Endoscopes were experimentally contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . Quantitative and qualitative microbiological analyses were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of enzymatic detergent washing followed by ozonated water disinfection. Results: The system achieved uniform disinfection across all endoscope surfaces. Quantitative analysis demonstrated a 4-log (99.99%) reduction in colony-forming units (CFU/mL) on the endoscope and in the post-disinfection water. Qualitative analysis showed no turbidity, indicating the absence of bacterial growth. Conclusion: This preliminary study presents the development of an endoscope reprocessor capable of achieving a 99.99% reduction in bacterial load using ozonated water jets. The system may represent a more resource-efficient alternative to conventional methods, consuming only 8 liters of water per cycle through recirculation and re-ozonation. The combined mechanical action of the water jets and the antimicrobial properties of ozone resulted in effective disinfection under the experimental conditions, reducing the processing time to 15 minutes compared to conventional methods.

Science & Business Connection: Anais do Congresso Científico e Tecnológico (978-65-272-0556-2) - Desenvolvimento De Um Sisema Hidrodinâmico Com Água Ozonizada E Ultrassom Para Desinfecção De Artigos Médico-Hospitalares