Dejan Maletić

Time resolved optical emission images of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet with transparent electrodes

We study development of plasma packages in atmospheric pressure plasma jet from their formation as a discharge close to the instantaneous cathode, following their motion between and inside the electrodes up to their emergence at the edge of the glass tube and formation of a plasma bullet. Inside both electrodes, plasma is concentrated close to the walls and is bright, while outside it is located at the axis. This paper opens issues of the geometry of electrodes, fields, and atomic processes, allowing some predictions to be made about pertinent mechanisms.

The effect of a plasma needle on bacteria in planktonic samples and on peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells

In this paper, we study the application of a plasma needle to induce necrosis in planktonic samples containing a single breed of bacteria. Two different types of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), were covered in this study. In all experiments with bacteria, the samples were liquid suspensions of several different concentrations of bacteria prepared according to the McFarland standard. The second system studied in this paper was human peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells (hPB-MSC). In the case of hPB-MSC, two sets of experiments were performed: when cells were covered with a certain amount of liquid (indirect) and when the cell sample was in direct contact with the plasma.Most importantly, the study is made with the aim to see the effects when the living cells are in a liquid medium, which normally acts as protection against the many agents that may be released by plasmas. It was found that a good effect may be expected for a wide range of initial cell densities and operating conditions causing destruction of several orders of magnitude even under the protection of a liquid. It was established independently that a temperature increase could not affect the cells under the conditions of our experiment, so the effect could originate only from the active species produced by the plasma. In the case of those hPB-MSC that were not protected by a liquid, gas flow proved to produce a considerable effect, presumably due to poor adhesion of the cells, but in a liquid the effect was only due to the plasma. Further optimization of the operation may be attempted, opening up the possibility of localized in vivo sterilization.

Plasma induced DNA damage: Comparison with the effects of ionizing radiation

We use human primary fibroblasts for comparing plasma and gamma rays induced DNA damage. In both cases, DNA strand breaks occur, but of fundamentally different nature. Unlike gamma exposure, contact with plasma predominantly leads to single strand breaks and base-damages, while double strand breaks are mainly consequence of the cell repair mechanisms. Different cell signaling mechanisms are detected confirming this (ataxia telangiectasia mutated - ATM and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related - ATR, respectively). The effective plasma doses can be tuned to match the typical therapeutic doses of 2 Gy. Tailoring the effective dose through plasma power and duration of the treatment enables safety precautions mainly by inducing apoptosis and consequently reduced frequency of micronuclei.

Detection of atomic oxygen and nitrogen created in a radio-frequency-driven micro-scale atmospheric pressure plasma jet using mass spectrometry

In this paper we show mass spectrometry results for a radio-frequency-driven micro-atmospheric pressure plasma jet (?-APPJ) discharge obtained using a mass analyzer with triple differential pumping allowing us to sample directly in ambient atmospheric pressure environment (Hiden HPR-60). The flow of the buffer gas (mixture of helium and 1% oxygen) was 2?slm and 3?slm and the excitation frequency was 13.56?MHz. We monitored production of atomic oxygen and nitrogen in the plasma for different flows and powers given by the RF power supply. These measurements were made for energies of electrons emitted from the ionization filament below the threshold for dissociation of O2 and N2. In addition to oxygen and nitrogen atoms, yields for O2, N2, NO and O3 are recorded for different powers and gas flows. It is shown that the ?-APPJ is symmetrical and operates in ?-mode. The power transmitted to the discharge was below 5?W in all measurements.

Time-resolved optical emission imaging of an atmospheric plasma jet for different electrode positions with a constant electrode gap

The aim of this paper is to determine the influence of the position of the electrodes on the range of a plasma jet, for specific experimental conditions, by using time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy. The optimal position of the electrodes is determined for a fixed gas flow rate and applied excitation voltage. We characterize the helium plasma jet for different distances from the end of the glass tube, showing detailed results for four different electrode positions from the jet nozzle (7, 15, 30 and 50mm). It was found that at the distance of 15mm, the length of the plasma jet is at its maximum. The highest speeds of the plasma package travelling outside the glass tube of the atmospheric plasma jet are obtained for the same electrode configuration (15mm from the jet nozzle). With the electrodes positioned at smaller distances from the nozzle, the plasma plume was much shorter, and at the larger distances the plasma did not even leave the glass tube.

Sterilization of bacteria suspensions and identification of radicals deposited during plasma treatment

Abstract In this paper we will present results for plasma sterilization of planktonic samples of two reference strains of bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. We have used a plasma needle as a source of non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma in all treatments. This device is already well characterized by OES, derivative probes and mass spectrometry. It was shown that power delivered to the plasma is bellow 2 W and that it produces the main radical oxygen and nitrogen species believed to be responsible for the sterilization process. Here we will only present results obtained by electron paramagnetic resonance which was used to detect the OH, H and NO species. Treatment time and power delivered to the plasma were found to have the strongest influence on sterilization. In all cases we have observed a reduction of several orders of magnitude in the concentration of bacteria and for the longest treatment time complete eradication. A more efficient sterilization was achieved in the case of gram negative bacteria.

Biomedical applications and diagnostics of atmospheric pressure plasma

Numerous applications of non-equilibrium (cold, low temperature) plasmas require those plasmas to operate at atmospheric pressure. Achieving non-equilibrium at atmospheric pressure is difficult since the ionization growth is very fast at such a high pressure. High degree of ionization on the other hand enables transfer of energy between electrons and ions and further heating of the background neutral gas through collisions between ions and neutrals. Thus, all schemes to produce non-equilibrium plasmas revolve around some form of control of ionization growth. Diagnostics of atmospheric pressure plasmas is difficult and some of the techniques cannot be employed at all. The difficulties stem mostly from the small size. Optical emission spectroscopy and laser absorption spectroscopy require very high resolution in order to resolve the anatomy of the discharges. Mass analysis is not normally applicable for atmospheric pressure plasmas, but recently systems with triple differential pumping have been developed that allow analysis of plasma chemistry at atmospheric pressures which is essential for numerous applications. Application of such systems is, however, not free from problems. Applications in biomedicine require minimum heating of the ambient air. The gas temperature should not exceed 40 °C to avoid thermal damage to the living tissues. Thus, plasmas should operate at very low powers and power control is essential. We developed unique derivative probes that allow control of power well below 1 W and studied four different sources, including dielectric barrier discharges, plasma needle, atmospheric pressure jet and micro atmospheric pressure jet. The jet operates in plasma bullet regime if proper conditions are met. Finally, we cover results on treatment of bacteria and human cells as well as treatment of plants by plasmas. Localized delivery of active species by plasmas may lead to a number of medical procedures that may also involve removal of bacteria, fungi and spores.

Inhibition of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a plasma needle

In numerous recent papers plasma chemistry of non equilibrium plasma sources operating at atmospheric pressure has been linked to plasma medical effects including sterilization. In this paper we present a study of the effectiveness of an atmospheric pressure plasma source, known as plasma needle, in inhibition of the growth of biofilm produced by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Even at the lowest powers the biofilms formed by inoculi of MRSA of 104 and 105 CFU have been strongly affected by plasma and growth in biofilms was inhibited. The eradication of the already formed biofilm was not achieved and it is required to go to more effective sources.

Time resolved images of plasma bullet for different electrode gaps

Summary form only given. In the last few decades, there has been a huge advance in atmospheric pressure plasma research; many plasma devices have been constructed and analyzed using various diagnostic techniques. One of the promising devices is atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating in the plasma bullet mode with applied frequencies varying from 5 to 120 kHz and applied voltages can be in sinusoidal or pulsed [1, 2]. Several authors report that the plasma jet that is formed is not continuous.

Development of biomedical applications of non-equilibrium plasmas and possibilities for atmospheric pressure nanotechnology applications

In this paper we discuss the synergisms between different realms of plasma supported nanotechnologies. First the developments in plasma etching for micro and later nanoelectronics have fueled immense growth of knowledge and tools in describing non-equilibrium plasmas. This has led to detailed predictive codes and that knowledge has been used to develop a large number of new sources of non-equilibrium plasmas operating at atmospheric pressure, even in air. With those tools a new front of plasma medicine has opened wide with new possibilities and a number of promising techniques for sterilization, cancer treatment, oral cavity treatment, dermatology and in a range of applications where deposition of thin films for biocompatibility is necessary. This new front opens new possibilities in the realm of nanotechnologies with atmospheric pressure deposition of nano-structures allowing direct application of new techniques in medicine and in cheaper technologies for other purposes.