Cell treatment and surface functionalization using a miniature atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma torch (original) (raw)
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Miniature atmospheric pressure glow discharge torch (APGD-t) for local biomedical applications
Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2006
The operating parameters of a miniature atmospheric pressure glow discharge torch (APGD-t) are optimized for the production of excited atomic oxygen, and the effect of the plasma jet on endothelial cells grown in Petri dishes is studied. We first demonstrate the importance of accounting for the effect of the voltage probe used to measure the electrical parameters of the torch on its ignition and operation characteristics. When operated with a main plasma gas flow rate of 1 SLM He and a power level of ~1 W, the torch shows an optimum in the production of excited atomic oxygen for a O 2 flow of ~3.5 SCCM injected downstream from the plasma-forming region through a capillary electrode (i.e., 0.35 v/v % O 2 /He). It is shown that endothelial cells are detached from the Petri dishes surface under the action of the optimized plasma jet and that this effect does not originate from heating and fluid shearing effects. It is postulated that the cell detachment is caused solely by plasma-induced biochemical processes taking place at the cell-substrate interface.
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, 2002
A non-thermal plasma source ('plasma needle') generated under atmospheric pressure by means of radio-frequency excitation has been characterized. Plasma appears as a small (sub-mm) glow at the tip of a metal pin. It operates in helium, argon, nitrogen and mixtures of He with air. Electrical measurements show that plasma needle operates at relatively low voltages (200-500 V peak-to-peak) and the power consumption ranges from tens of milliwatts to at most a few watts. Electron-excitation, vibrational and rotational temperatures have been determined using optical emission spectroscopy. Excitation and vibration temperatures are close to each other, in the range 0.2-0.3 eV, rotational gas temperature is at most a few hundred K. At lowest power input the source has the highest excitation temperature while the gas remains at room temperature. We have demonstrated the non-aggressive nature of the plasma: it can be applied on organic materials, also in watery environment, without causing thermal/electric damage to the surface. Plasma needle will be used in the study of plasma interactions with living cells and tissues. At later stages, this research aims at performing fine, high-precision plasma surgery, like removal of (cancer) cells or cleaning of dental cavities.
Remote and Direct Plasma Processing of Cells: How to Induce a Desired Behavior
Plasma Medicine, 2012
The interplay between plasma processes and the biological environment is a long and intriguing story that spans through different applications from surface modification of biomaterials to the direct interaction of plasma with cells. This makes plasma processes a very powerful tool in such distant biomedical fields as tissue engineering and sterilization, so far from the typical field where plasmas are utilized. In vitro cell culture experiments represent the best way to fully understand the more subtle and fundamental interactions between the chemical species produced by glow discharge and cells. Among the different kind of cells that can be used, cell lines allow high reproducibility and control of results. In this paper three main items, ranging from low pressure plasma modifications of 2D and 3D materials to Dielectric Barrier Discharges (DBDs) directly on cells, will be reviewed, with respect to the scientific production of the authors.