New Clinical Applications of Electrolyzed Water: A Review

Abstract

As the situation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still deteriorating, there has been a huge increase in the demand and use of disinfectants. Electrolyzed water (EW), as a novel broad-spectrum disinfectant and cleaner, has been widely used for several years. EW can be produced in an electrolysis chamber which contains dilute salt and tap water. It is an effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent, with several advantages such as on-the-spot, cheap, environmentally friendly and safe for human beings. Therefore, EW holds potential significance for high-risk settings in hospitals and other clinical facilities. EW can also be applied for wound healing, advanced tissue care, and dental clinics. The present review article highlights the latest developments and new perspectives of EW, especially in clinical fields. Furthermore, the main action modes of antibiofilm and antimicrobial will be summarized.

Keywords: antibiofilm; antimicrobial effect; clinical application; electrolyzed water; oral hygiene; wound healing.

Figure 1

Application of electrolyzed water (EW) at different pH values in various fields.

Figure 2

Generation of electrolyzed water. (A): alkaline electrolyzed water and acidic electrolyzed water; (B): slightly acidic electrolyzed water. Created with BioRender.com.

Figure 3

Factors affecting the decontamination efficacy of electrolyzed water. ACC: available chlorine concentration; ORP: oxidation–reduction potential.

Figure 4

Model representing the mechanism of electrolyzed water. Created with BioRender.com.

Figure 5

Model representing the mechanism of electrolyzed water on wounds. Created with BioRender.com.