Atmospheric Plasma Meets Cell: Plasma Tailoring by Living Cells

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Plasma Physics
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Cold atmospheric plasma jets (CAPJs) have been studied for cancer treatment for over a decade, focusing on their effects on cancer cells.
• Previous research has primarily examined the impact of CAPJs on cancer cells, with limited understanding of the reciprocal interaction.
• Investigating the self-organization patterns of CAPJs in the presence of diverse cell types is crucial for optimizing cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of normal and cancer cells on cold atmospheric plasma jet (CAPJ) behavior during treatment.
• To analyze CAPJ selectivity and self-organization patterns in the presence of different cell lines.
• To explore the potential of manipulating CAPJ-cell interactions for enhanced cancer treatment selectivity.

Main Methods:

• Experimental analysis of CAPJ behavior in the presence of various normal and cancer cell lines.
• Theoretical modeling to study plasma self-organization patterns in mixed cell populations.
• Investigation of CAPJ behavior under different boundary conditions (grounded vs. floating) using a copper board.

Main Results:

• Cell capacitance was identified as a key predictor of plasma jet behavior.
• Cancer cells demonstrated the ability to direct the CAPJ towards or away from normal cells, depending on boundary conditions.
• Grounded and floating boundary conditions significantly altered CAPJ behavior, highlighting the influence of the surrounding environment.

Conclusions:

• Plasma exhibits self-adaptive properties that can be directed towards cancer cells.
• Differences in permittivity among cell lines can be leveraged to focus plasma on cancer cells while sparing normal tissues.
• This research opens avenues for developing highly selective plasma-based cancer therapies.