Non-Equilibrium Plasma Interactions with Biomaterials, Biological Solutions and Tissues

Technical Report · 07 March 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1842416· OSTI ID:1842416

Bruggeman, Peter J. ^[1]

---

1. University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (United States); University of Minnesota

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma discharges offer an abundant source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) at room temperature enabling unique interactions with biomaterials, biological solutions and tissues. These interactions particularly with living matter are presently an important intellectual frontier in plasma science with promising potential applications ranging from human health care to advanced biomaterial processing. Exciting case studies have been reported that illustrate the huge potential of cold atmospheric plasma technology in wound healing and cancer treatment. The interaction of plasma with conducting and dielectric biomaterials such as tissue strongly influences the plasma properties. In turn this changes the impact of the plasma on the biomaterial. Particularly in the case of living matter, liquid based solutions are ubiquitous which complicates interfacial processes. The lack of insight into the underlying mechanisms of the interaction of plasma with wounds and tumors is currently a bottleneck for the further development of the technology and gives rise to many interesting scientific questions. This project was focused on plasma properties and kinetics during plasma-biomaterial interactions. Both DC pulsed and RF driven atmospheric pressure plasma jets, extensively used by the plasma community were studied. The bio-interfaces included hydrogel as a tissue model, (saline) solutions, bacteria and virus. Plasma diagnostics used include Thomson scattering, Rayleigh scattering, Raman scattering, (two-photon absorption) laser induced fluorescence, optical emission spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, molecular beam mass spectrometry and fast imaging allowing to determine electron densities and temperatures, ionic species, reactive species including radicals, gas temperatures, gas composition, electric fields and solution components transferred to the gas phase.

• Research Organization: University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0016053
• OSTI ID: 1842416
• Report Number(s): DOE-MINNESOTA-16053
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Diagnostics
Low Temperature Plasmas
Plasma Kinetics
Plasma-Biointeractions
Plasma-Surface Interactions