Tsunehiro Maehara

Heating of ferrite powder by an AC magnetic field for local hyperthermia

To develop materials for achieving local hyperthermia, we investigate the heating of various ferrite and metal powders by applying an external AC magnetic field. In comparison with magnetite powder, which has often been used in previous experiments, Mg-ferrite powder is more applicable for achieving local hyperthermia.

Microwave plasma in hydrocarbon liquids

The generation of microwave plasma in liquid with vapor bubbles has been achieved and will soon be applied to high-speed chemical vapor deposition. Vapor bubbles are induced from an electrode by heating. The deposition rate of diamondlike carbon films depends on the pressure and the power of the microwave supply. Polycrystalline silicon carbide is synthesized on a silicon substrate in a mixture of n-dodecane and silicone oil. The dispersion of water droplets in liquid creates many pores on the silicon carbide films. The synthesis of carbon nanotubes can be achieved in liquid benzene.

Radio frequency plasma in water

We generate a radio frequency (RF) plasma in water at an atmospheric pressure by applying an RF power of 13.56 MHz from an electrode. The plasma is in a bubble formed in water. On the basis of hydrogen spectral lines under the assumption of thermal equilibrium, the temperature of the plasma is estimated to be 4000–4500 K. Spectroscopic measurements show that hydrogen and oxygen are excited in the plasma. The plasma is also obtained in tap water or NaCl solution with a high conductivity. In the solution, sodium spectral lines are observed. Colored water containing methylene blue is exposed to the plasma. The absorbence spectra of the colored water before and after exposure to the plasma suggest the decomposition of organic matter due to chemical reactions involving active species, such as OH-radicals.

Discharge Characteristics of Microwave and High-Frequency In-Liquid Plasma in Water

The plasma in water is generated by applying high-frequency (HF) irradiation of 27.12 MHz or microwave (MW) radiation of 2.45 GHz from an electrode. The electrode is heated by joule heating by the HF or MW irradiation, and vapor bubbles are generated simultaneously. The plasma is then ignited inside the bubbles on the electrode. The glow discharge plasma can be maintained in spite of atmospheric pressure due to the cooling effect of the liquid itself. The electron temperature of the plasma generated by the 27.12 MHz radiation is higher than that generated by the 2.45 GHz radiation.

Production of hydrogen in a conventional microwave oven

Hydrogen is produced by generating in-liquid plasma in a conventional microwave oven. A receiving antenna unit consisting of seven copper rods is placed at the bottom of the reactor furnace in the microwave oven. 2.45 GHz microwave in-liquid plasma can be generated at the tips of the electrodes in the microwave oven. When the n-dodecane is decomposed by plasma, 74% pure hydrogen gas can be achieved with this device. The hydrogen generation efficiency for a 750 W magnetron output is estimated to be approximately 56% of that of the electrolysis of water. Also, in this process up to 4 mg/s of solid carbon can be produced at the same time. The present process enables simultaneous production of hydrogen gas and the carbide in the hydrocarbon liquid.

Temperature distributions of radio-frequency plasma in water by spectroscopic analysis

Distributions of emission intensity from radicals, electron temperature, and rotational temperature at a radio frequency of 27.12 MHz plasma in water are clarified by detailed spectroscopy measurement. Through this investigation, the following were observed. The points of maximum emission intensity of Hα, Hβ, O (777 nm), and O (845 nm) are almost the same, while that of OH shifts upward. The electron temperature decreases, while the rotational temperature increases with pressure. The distribution of the electron temperature changes at a threshold pressure, which is concerned with a change in the electron discharge mechanism. The self-bias of the electrode changes from a negative to positive at a threshold pressure. The point of the maximum rotational temperature of OH radicals shifts to approximately 1 mm above that for the maximum intensity of OH emission.

Feasibility of chemohyperthermia with docetaxel-embedded magnetoliposomes as minimally invasive local treatment for cancer

Hyperthermia is a minimally invasive approach to cancer treatment, but it is difficult to heat only the tumor without damaging surrounding tissue. To solve this problem, we studied the effectiveness of chemohyperthermia with docetaxel‐embedded magnetoliposomes (DMLs) and an applied alternating current (AC) magnetic field. Human MKN45 gastric cancer cells were implanted in the hind limb of Balb‐c/nu/nu mice. Various concentrations of docetaxel‐embedded DMLs were injected into the tumors and exposed to an AC magnetic field (n = 6, each). For comparison with hyperthermia alone, magnetite‐loaded liposome (ML)‐injected tumors were exposed to an AC magnetic field. Furthermore, the results of DML without AC treatment and docetaxel diluted into PBS with AC treatment were also compared (n = 10, each). Tumor surface temperature was maintained between 42 and 43°C. Tumor volume was reduced in the DML group with a docetaxel concentration > 56.8 μg/ml, while a docetaxel concentration > 568.5 μg/ml was required for tumor reduction without hyperthermia. Statistically significant differences in tumor volume and survival rate were observed between the DML group exposed to the magnetic field and the other groups. The tumor disappeared in 3 mice in the DML group exposed to the magnetic field; 2 mice survived over 6 months after treatment, whereas all mice of the other groups died by 15 weeks. Histologically, hyperthermia with DML damaged tumor cells and DML diffused homogeneously. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to show that hyperthermia using chemotherapeutic agent‐embedded magnetoliposomes has an anticancer effect.

27.12 MHz plasma generation in supercritical carbon dioxide

An experiment was conducted for generating high-frequency plasma in supercritical carbon dioxide; it is expected to have the potential for applications in various types of practical processes. It was successfully generated at 6−20 MPa using electrodes mounted in a supercritical cell with a gap of 1 mm. Emission spectra were then measured to investigate the physical properties of supercritical carbon dioxide plasma. The results indicated that while the emission spectra for carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide could be mainly obtained at a low pressure, the emission spectra for atomic oxygen could be obtained in the supercritical state, which increased with the pressure. The temperature of the plasma in supercritical state was estimated to be approximately 6000−7000 K on the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium and the calculation results of thermal equilibrium composition in this state showed the increase of atomic oxygen by the decomposition of CO2.

A supercritical carbon dioxide plasma process for preparing tungsten oxide nanowires

A supercritical carbon dioxide (CO(2)) plasma process for fabricating one-dimensional tungsten oxide nanowires coated with amorphous carbon is presented. High-frequency plasma was generated in supercritical carbon dioxide at 20 MPa by using tungsten electrodes mounted in a supercritical cell, and subsequently an organic solvent was introduced with supercritical carbon dioxide into the plasma. Electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy investigations of the deposited materials showed the production of tungsten oxide nanowires with or without an outer layer. The nanowires with an outer layer exhibited a coaxial structure with an outer concentric layer of amorphous carbon and an inner layer of tungsten oxide with a thickness and diameter of 20-30 and 10-20 nm, respectively.

Degradation of methylene blue by radio frequency plasmas in water under ultraviolet irradiation.

The degradation of methylene blue by radio frequency (RF) plasmas in water under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was studied experimentally. When the methylene blue solution was exposed to RF plasma, UV irradiation from a mercury vapor lamp enhanced degradation significantly. A lamp without power supply also enhanced degradation since weak UV light was emitted weakly from the lamp due to the excitation of mercury vapor by stray RF power. Such an enhancement is explained by the fact that after hydrogen peroxide is produced via the recombination process of OH radicals around the plasma, OH radicals reproduced from hydrogen peroxide via the photolysis process degrade methylene blue.