Begell House Inc.
Plasma Medicine
PMED
1947-5764
5
2-4
2015
Preface: Special Issue on Plasma Systems for Biological/Medical Applications
v-vi
10.1615/PlasmaMed.v5.i2-4.10
Masaru
Hori
Plasma Nanotechnology Research Center, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
Gregory
Fridman
C&J Nyheim Plasma Institute, Drexel University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; AAPlasma LLC
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Nonthermal Plasma Reduces Water Consumption While Accelerating Arabidopsis thaliana Growth and Fecundity
87-98
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015723
Bela
Peethambaran
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19104
J.
Han
A.J. Drexel Plasma
Institute, Camden, NJ
K.
Kermalli
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
J.
Jiaxing
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
Gregory
Fridman
C&J Nyheim Plasma Institute, Drexel University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA; AAPlasma LLC
Philadelphia, PA, USA
R.
Balsamo
Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Alexander A.
Fridman
C&J Nyheim Plasma Institute, Drexel University,
Camden, NJ 08103, USA
Vandana
Miller
C&J Nyheim Plasma Institute, Drexel University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
water conservation
reactive oxygen species
reactive nitrogen species
With climate change and increasing world population, the competition for water available for crop irrigation has increased. The main methods employed to meet the existing food needs are addition of fertilizers to soil and genetic engineering of plants. However, the short- and long-term impacts of these techniques on health and environment are of major concern. The study presented here demonstrates that nonthermal plasma (NTP) treatment of water may address these challenges without the addition of chemicals. Plasma produces a wide variety of metastable radicals, predominantly reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) that have been previously proven to activate plant defense responses and to accelerate growth. In this work, NTP was used to treat deionized water for irrigation of Arabidopsis thaliana plants for 7 weeks. Plasma treatment decreased overall water consumption for irrigation, simultaneously enhancing plant growth and yield. We suggest that the reactive nitrogen species (NO3-N) generated by the plasma is responsible for the increased fecundity of plants.
Study on Thermal Characteristics of Ionized Gas Coagulation Equipment
99-108
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015879
Jaeho
Kim
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
Hajime
Sakakita
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan; Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
Hiromasa
Yamada
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan; Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1
Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
Sanae
Ikehara
Biotherapeutic Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
Hayao
Nakanishi
Division of Oncological Pathology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, 1-1 Kanokoden,
Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8681, Japan
Toru
Niwa
Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera,
Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
Nobuyuki
Shimizu
Sanno Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan
Masao
Ichinose
Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera,
Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
Yuzuru
Ikehara
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan; Biotherapeutic Research Group, Biotechnology
Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
plasma coagulation
low energy ionized gas coagulation equipment
high energy ionized gas coagulation equipment
minimally invasive surgery
thermal characteristics of plasmas
Low energy ionized gas coagulation equipment (LE-IGCE) using low temperature nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasmas has been attracting special attention with the popularization of minimally invasive surgery. In this work, the thermal characteristics of a commercial high energy ionized gas coagulation equipment (HE-IGCE) and a specially designed LE-IGCE have been studied using an infrared camera and optical emission spectroscopy during their treatments. The four substrates used for the treatments were pork meats, copper (Cu) plates, wet tissues, and glass plates. In the HE-IGCE treatment, the surface temperature of the pork meat rose to 350°C, and the rotational temperatures of nitrogen molecules in plasmas were 450 to 1630 K, depending on which substrate was used during HE-IGCE treatments.
In the LE-IGCE treatment, the surface temperature of pork meats was lower than 40°C, and the rotational temperatures of nitrogen molecules were lower than 350 K. The results show that the LE-IGCE can maintain the temperature of biological tissue below the threshold that would cause irreversible tissue damage.
In Vitro and In Vivo Analysis of Hydrogen Peroxide-Enhanced Plasma-Induced Effluent for Infection and Contamination Mitigation at Research and Medical Facilities
109-123
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015738
Mark
Golkowski
Department of Electrical Engineering; Department of Bioengineering University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado
Jori
Leszczynski
Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado
S. Reed
Plimpton
Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado; School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine California
Bruce
McCollister
Department of Microbiology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado
Czeslaw
Golkowski
Sterifre Inc., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
plasma medicine
nonthermal plasma
disinfection
nosocomial infections
ozone therapy
The growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria poses a unique challenge to animal and human health. The threat of nosocomial infections in hospitals and infectious outbreaks in vivaria through fomites requires novel technological solutions. We describe the use of a compact device capable of producing a disinfecting air stream based on electrical plasma-induced chemistry and hydrogen peroxide additives. We show that this device can deactivate strains of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro on a potential fomite in medical and research facilities. Deactivation takes less than a minute and does not require high temperatures. Exposure of human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) in isolated cultures show that human skin cells are much less affected by the treatment than bacteria. In addition, an in vivo acute exposure of shaved CD-1 mice and subsequent histology shows no adverse effects on the skin as compared to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and Silvadene. The results suggest that the technology is suitable as a general disinfection procedure for heat-sensitive inanimate objects in a short exposure time. In addition, it is not a danger to live tissue when exposed acutely, suggesting potential use as a regular disinfection procedure.
Slow Molecular Transport of Plasma-Generated Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species and O2 through Agarose as a Surrogate for Tissue
125-143
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015740
Jun-Seok
Oh
Department of Electronic and Photonic Systems Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami-shi, Kochi 782-8502, Japan; Center for Nanotechnology, Research Institute of Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami-shi, Kochi 782-8502, Japan
Endre J.
Szili
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South
Australia 5095, Australia; Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
Satsuki
Ito
Department of Electronic and Photonic Systems Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami-shi, Kochi 782-8502, Japan
Sung-Ha
Hong
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South
Australia 5095, Australia; Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
Nishtha
Gaur
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South
Australia 5095, Australia; Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
Hiroshi
Furuta
Department of Electronic and Photonic Systems Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami-shi, Kochi 782-8502, Japan; Center for Nanotechnology, Research Institute of Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami-shi, Kochi 782-8502, Japan
Robert D.
Short
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South
Australia 5095, Australia; Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
Akimitsu
Hatta
Department of Electronic and Photonic Systems Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami-shi, Kochi 782-8502, Japan; Center for Nanotechnology, Research Institute of Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada-cho, Kami-shi, Kochi 782-8502, Japan
RONS transport
oxygenation
deoxygenation
agarose target
in situ UV absorption spectroscopy
The helium (He) atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ) delivery of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and molecular oxygen (O2) in deionized (DI) water was monitored in real time using in situ UV absorption spectroscopy. The He APPJ was used to treat DI water directly and through an agarose target as a surrogate for tissue (e.g., a skin barrier). For direct treatment, the RONS were generated immediately in the DI water, and the concentration of RONS continued to increase during the He APPJ treatment. But there was only a very minor increase in the total RONS concentration detected after the plasma and gas flow were switched off. The agarose target delayed the generation of RONS into the DI water, but the total RONS concentration continued to increase long after (25 min) the plasma and gas flow were switched off. Direct treatment deoxygenated the DI water, whereas treatment through agarose resulted in oxygenation of the DI water. A dynamic change in the ratio of H2O2, NO2-, NO3-, and O2 was detected in the DI water during He APPJ treatment and 25 min after the He and gas flow were switched off for both direct and through-agarose treatment.
These results have implications for the plasma treatment of real tissue where the dynamic changes in the RONS and O2 concentrations within the tissue and tissue fluid could affect cellular and physiological processes.
Influence of Plasma Treatment in Open Air on Mycotoxin Content and Grain Nutriments
145-158
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015752
Pavel
Kriz
Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Bartos
Petr
Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Havelka
Zbynek
Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Kadlec
Jaromir
Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Czech
Republic
Olsan
Pavel
Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Spatenka
Petr
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech
Republic
Dienstbier
Miroslav
Research Institute of Brewing and Malting in Prague, Czech Republic
gliding arc
microwave plasma discharge
seed treatment
deoxynivalenol
nutritive value
Surface treatment by low-temperature plasma has a great potential in a wide range of applications in many industries and research fields, such as material engineering, automobile industry, ecology, medicine, and agriculture. The application of plasma treatments is relatively new and not very common in agriculture. Protecting cereal seeds against some fungal diseases is one of the plasma applications in agriculture. We tested the possibility of decreased mycotoxin concentration by low pressure and atmospheric pressure plasmas. In addition, we investigated the effects of plasma treatment on nutritive values of the seeds because of their usage as domestic animal feed. The influence on seed germination was also studied and are also reported here.
Large-Volume Plasma Device with Internally Mounted Face-Type Planar Microwave Launchers for Low-Temperature Sterilization
159-175
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015934
Mrityunjai Kumar
Singh
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station-Karnal 132001, India
Masaaki
Nagatsu
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1, Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan
plasma sterilization
surface-wave plasma
volume-wave plasma
spore-forming bacteria
In this study, large-volume microwave excited surface-wave and volume-wave plasmas were investigated for low temperature sterilization of medical instrument. The two planar microwave launchers, each supported by a 1.5-kW magnetron, were face-to-face installed inside the vacuum chamber of plasma device for homogeneous sterilization. The spatial distributions of plasma discharges in the surface-wave and volume-wave modes were characterized under various discharge conditions using single or double microwave launchers of the experimental setup. The electron density increased to about twice in the case of double launchers as compared to single launcher without any microwave interference between two launchers. With this plasma setup, we confirmed the successful inactivation of Tyvek-wrapped spore-forming bacteria at temperatures less than 70°C and within 70 to 80 min with time-modulated surface-wave and volume-wave plasma, respectively.
Effect of Ozonated Water Supplied Intermittently to Underground Roots on the Growth of Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis)
177-187
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015742
Hideyuki
Saito
School of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Miyagi University, 2-2-1 Hatadate, Taihaku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0215, Japan
Satoru
Iizuka
Department of Electrical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-
05 Aza Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
barrier discharge
plant hormone
plant growth promotion
The effect of ozonated water on plant growth was examined. Ozonated water, produced by an atmospheric barrier discharge, was supplied intermittently twice a day, except on rainy and cloudy days, to the underground roots of komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) by changing the feeding time interval. Being apart from the feeding position, the weights of komatsuna increased by 2.4 times in the case of 5-sec feeding and 2.9 times in the cases of 78-sec feeding, compared to those of control. Intermittent supply of a suitable amount of ozon-ated water to the underground roots was found to activate plant growth.
Study of the Power Distribution of Each Impedance in the Electrical Circuit of Ionized Gas Coagulation Equipment
189-203
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015853
Hajime
Sakakita
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan; Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
Satoru
Kiyama
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono,
Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
Jaeho
Kim
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
Hiromasa
Yamada
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan; Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1
Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan
Isao
Masukane
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
Toru
Niwa
Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera,
Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
Nobuyuki
Shimizu
Sanno Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan
Yasuyuki
Seto
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The
University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Masao
Ichinose
Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera,
Wakayama, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
Yuzuru
Ikehara
Innovative Plasma Processing Group, Electronics and Photonics Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 2, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan; Biotherapeutic Research Group, Biotechnology
Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
plasma flare current
load power
blood coagulation
cauterization
minimally invasive surgery
low temperature plasma
high temperature plasma
International Electronics Commission
Medical plasma equipment is categorized as electrical equipment for use in medical treatment. The characteristics of both low-energy ionized gas coagulation equipment (LE-IGCE) as a low-temperature plasma source and high-energy ionized gas coagulation equipment (HE-IGCE) as a high-temperature plasma source strongly depend on the structure of the plasma equipment and the operating conditions. In this paper, to ensure the electrical safety of both the LE-IGCE and the HE-IGCE, the output current and power of both types of equipment are measured, and the power distribution is evaluated for each impedance in the electrical circuit. The power required to produce plasma using the LE-IGCE corresponds to the real power of the power supply, and it is higher than that required by the HE-IGCE. However, ohmic heating in the human body caused by the LE-IGCE is much lower than that caused by the HE-IGCE.
Biological Effects and Enhancement of Percutaneous Absorption on Skin by Atmospheric Microplasma Irradiation
205-221
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015688
Kazuo
Shimizu
Department of Optoelectronics and Nanostructure Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 432-8011, Japan; Organization for Innovation and Social Collaboration, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 432-8561, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Photonics, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 432-8011, Japan; Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 432-8561, Japan
plasma drug delivery
microplasma irradiation
percutaneous absorption
Atmospheric plasma is attracting interest for medical applications and clinical phases. We adduce the following questions to guide the future research in plasma medicine.
1. Is plasma medicine an effective method for treating various symptoms?
2. If not, what combination of drugs in addition to plasma irradiation will be required?
3. Can plasma irradiation be an effective method for drug administration?
In this study, we explored the feasibility of using atmospheric microplasma irradiation to enhance percutaneous absorption of drugs, as an alternative delivery method to conventional hypodermic needles, to treat various symptoms, such as those associated with Alzheimer's disease. Pig skin was used as a biological sample, exposed to microplasma irradiation, and analyzed by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A tape stripping test, which is a representative method for evaluating skin barrier performance, was also conducted for comparison. Transepidermal water loss was measured to quantify water evaporation from the inside of the body through the skin barrier. The results show that the stratum corneum could be chemically and physically modified by microplasma irradiation. Physical damage to the skin by microplasma irradiation and plasma jets was also assessed by observing the skin surface. The results suggest that microplasma irradiation has the potential to enhance percutaneous absorption.
Optical Emission Spectroscopy and Contact Angle Study of Plasma Cleaning of Titanium Alloy Surfaces: Argon Plasma
223-236
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015722
Jordan
Katz
Orthobond Inc., North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Sophia
Gershman
A. Belkind & Associates, LLC, North Plainfield, NJ 07060
Abraham
Belkind
Orthobond Inc., North Brunswick, NJ 08902; A. Belkind & Associates, LLC, North Plainfield, NJ 07060
Plasma cleaning is common in the preparation of titanium medical devices. In this study, we examine the use of continuous in situ measurements with optical emission spectroscopy (OES) during plasma cleaning and wet contact angle as a tool to assess titanium implant cleanliness. Plasma cleaning was performed in argon plasma at 66.7 Pa in a commercially available radio-frequency (RF) power plasma system using 25 or 100 W of power. During cleaning, the intensities of OES lines at 386 and 418 nm, as related to surface contaminants, decreased over time and reached a baseline level in ~1 h. However, the water contact angle (WCA) decreased more rapidly, reaching ≤10 degrees in 3-5 sec and further decreased to the limit of detection of ~1 ± 1 degree in 20 min using 25 W plasma and in 1 min using 100 W plasma. The OES data indicate that plasma cleaning starts with rapid removal of contaminants from pronounced regions that are better exposed to the plasma and is followed by prolonged cleaning related to the removal of contaminants from less accessible regions. The delayed rise in WCA demonstrates a limitation in using that technique to assess cleanliness and shows how OES is a useful tool to better understand and control plasma cleaning of titanium surfaces.
Using Helium-Generated Cold Plasma to Control Infection and Healing
237-247
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015761
Paola
Brun
Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Unità di Microbiologia, Università di Padova, Italy
Venera
Russo
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Unit of Microbiology, I-35100 Padua,
Italy
Elena
Tarricone
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Unit of Histology, I-35100 Padua, Italy
Simona
Corrao
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Unit of Histology, I-35100 Padua, Italy
Velika
Deligianni
Department of Ophthalmology, San Antonio Hospital, I-35100 Padua, Italy
Andrea
Leonardi
Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Unit of Ophthalmology, I-35100 Padua, Italy
Roberto
Cavazzana
Consorzio RFX, Padova, Italy
Matteo
Zuin
Consorzio RFX, Padova, Italy
Emilio
Martines
Consorzio RFX, Padova, Italy
reactive oxygen species
bacteria
fungi
eukaryotic cells
wound healing
Cold atmospheric pressure plasma has been proposed for sterilization of inert surfaces and disinfection of living tissues. Our recent studies reveal that chemically active species such as reactive oxygen species generated by a low-power atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma source obtained by ionizing helium gas mixed with ambient air are mandatory for their antimicrobial effects. In addition, they also initiate intracellular signaling pathways required for wound healing in eukaryotic cells. Thus, exposure to plasma sustains healing of tissue injuries both indirectly through microbicidal effects and directly by action on cells such as fibroblasts involved in tissue regeneration.
Effect of Flowing Mist Relative Humidity on the Electric Characteristics of Helium Dielectric Barrier Discharge
249-256
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015750
Mohamed
El Shaer
Plasma & Energy Applications Research Laboratory, Zagazig, Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Mona
Mobasher
Plasma & Energy Applications Research Laboratory, Zagazig, Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
A.
Zaki
Plasma & Energy Applications Research Laboratory, Zagazig, Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
DBD
humidity
mist
electrical characterization
mode transition
multipeaks
Lissajous figure
To examine the effect of humidity on the operation of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), we tested electric characteristics of an atmospheric DBD in flowing helium between two parallel plates covered by dielectric in water mist. With increasing relative humidity (RH) levels, the signal current indicated different behaviors of the discharge. The discharge began as a multipeak Townsend discharge at low humidity levels. After increasing RH of the injected mist, the width and amplitude of current microdischarges decreased until they reached a diffuse discharge free from microdischarges. With discharge current gradually decreasing with increasing humidity, discharge power began to decrease but then increased continually after reaching a specific humidity value. Our results show that introducing humid mist in the DBD gave this type of discharge efficacious properties that could be applied to the destruction of bacteria found in serum plasma.
Improving the Efficiency of Organic Fertilizer and Nitrogen Use via Air Plasma and Distributed Renewable Energy
257-270
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015763
Rune
Ingels
N2 Applied As, Beddingen 2 0250 Oslo, Norway
David B.
Graves
College of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
reactive nitrogen
air plasma
acidification
nitric acid
ammonia loss
organic fertilizer
Birkeland
organic waste
Synthesis of reactive forms of nitrogen such as ammonia is important in modern agricultural productivity, but present agricultural technology uses reactive nitrogen inefficiently, leading to numerous and growing environmental problems. Animal, human, and food waste all contain significant quantities of organic nitrogen that are transformed into ammonia (NH3) by bacterial degradation of organic waste. If not captured, this volatile form of reactive nitrogen is lost to the environment, reducing N content and thus the agricultural value of organic waste. Furthermore, ammonia loss to the environment initiates a cascade of environmental problems. Nonequilibrium air plasma technology creates reactive nitrogen that can be readily converted to dilute aqueous nitric acid solutions. If mixed with decaying organic waste, NH3 loss is greatly reduced via the formation of involatile ammonium nitrate, a potent nitrogen fertilizer. Air plasma technology for fixed nitrogen manufacture is currently limited only by the availability of electricity and the energy efficiency of the process. The price of electricity via distributed renewable routes such as solar photovoltaic or wind turbines is rapidly decreasing. Increasingly, inexpensive wind and solar power sources, coupled with recent advances in air plasma energy efficiency, suggest that this technology could have a significant role in improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing environmental and other threats associated with the current system.
Generation of Atmospheric Pressure Dry-and Mist-Plasma Jets and Their Effects on HeLa Cells
271-281
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016016219
Tsuyoshi
Sonoda
Graduated School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Japan
Kohei
Umeda
Graduated School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Japan
Douyan
Wang
Institute of Industrial Nanomaterials, Kumamoto University, Japan
Takao
Namihira
Institute of Pulsed
Power Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
Hidenori
Akiyama
Institute of Pulsed
Power Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
dry-plasma jet
mist-plasma jet
HeLa cells
cell death ratio
Atmospheric pressure plasma jets have recently received significant attention due to their unique capabilities and novel applications. Various chemical species, such as NO2, HNO3, O3, and OH, generated in air by plasma are dissolved and transported in water quickly, and accompanied chemical stimuli can inactivate bacteria. In our previous study, focusing on OH and H2O2 production, we developed a mist-plasma jet (MPJ) generated using dry helium gas mixed with pure water mist as an alternative to the traditional method using only dry helium gas, known as the dry-plasma jet (DPJ). In this study, the observation and comparison of effects of both MPJ and DPJ on HeLa cells surrounded by cell culture medium immediately after irradiation by plasma and following 24 h were focused. In addition, to observe details of effects of both plasma jets on HeLa cells, two experimental procedures were prepared. One is that of irradiated culture medium, including that with cells and observed cells replaced with fresh cell culture medium following 24 h. The other is that of irradiated culture medium, without cells, with plasma, and observed cells exposed to the plasma-treated culture medium after 24 h. These experiments revealed that MPJ more greatly influences cell death than DPJ.
Mass Spectrometry Analyses of Ions Generated by Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jets in Ambient Air
283-298
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016016443
Tomoko
Ito
Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies, Osaka University, Suita-shi, Osaka 565-0871,
Japan
Kensaku
Gotoh
Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies, Osaka University, Suita-shi, Osaka 565-0871,
Japan
Kanako
Sekimoto
Yokohama City University, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
Satoshi
Hamaguchi
Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies, Osaka University, Suita-shi, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
For biological and medical applications of low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasmas (APPs), gas- and liquid-phase chemical reactions caused by the plasmas determine the effectiveness of the APP-based treatments of biological systems. In this study, ions generated by helium-based low-frequency APP jets were identified by mass spectrometry. It is shown that, among all positive ions generated by plasma jets in ambient air, hydronium ions (H3O+) are the dominant ions that form water clusters. The stability of a hydronium ion with water molecules suggests that all positive ions generated by plasma jets would transfer their charges to hydronium ions if water molecules were abundant, such as in humid air or water. Similarly, it is shown that, among all negative ions generated by the plasma jets in ambient air, relatively few, such as OH-, HO2-, NO2-, NO3-, HCO3-, and HCO4-, form water clusters stably. The densities of positive and negative ions generated in ambient air by the APP jet system, as well as the concentrations of H2O2 and NO2- generated in pure water exposed to the same plasma, have been also measured.
Generation Process and Sterilization Effect of OH Radical in a Steam Plasma Flow at Atmospheric Pressure for a Plasma Autoclave
299-314
10.1615/PlasmaMed.2016015737
Takehiko
Sato
Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Takeshi
Furui
Graduate School of Engineering,
Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (Currently, Santo Co. Ltd., Yokkaichi, Japan)
dielectric barrier discharges (DBD)
sterilization
computational analysis
The reactive flow field and the mechanism of sterilization by steam plasma flow at atmospheric pressure were clarified to develop a new sterilization system by experimental and computational methods. The emission lines of OH, whose intensity increased with increased applied voltage and frequency, were observed in the discharge region. The OH radical finally changed to H2O2 in the condensed water. The OH radical was capable of sterilizing spores of Geobacillus stearothermophilus, although the condensed water did not have such effect. The discharge process was clarified with an axisymmetric, non-Maxwellian model. The OH radical was generated by a wire electrode toward the ground electrode, and the concentration of H2O2 increased after streamer propagation.
Index to Volume 5
315-320
10.1615/PlasmaMed.v5.i2-4.180