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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
An Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Setup to Investigate the Reactive Species Formation
Published on: November 3, 2016
Cancer-specific cytotoxicity of Ringer's acetate solution irradiated by cold atmospheric pressure plasma
Camelia Miron1, Kenji Ishikawa1, Satoshi Kashiwagura1
1Center for Low-temperature Plasma Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
Abstract:
Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas are promising medical tools that can assist in cancer treatment. While the medical pathology mechanism is substantially understood, knowledge of the contribution of reactive species formed in plasma and the mode of activation of biochemical pathways is insufficient. Herein, we present a concept involving antitumoral plasma-activated organics, which is envisaged to increase cytotoxicity levels against cancer cells. Ringer's acetate solution was irradiated by low-temperature plasma at atmospheric pressure and possible reaction pathways of the compound generation are presented. The chemical compounds formed by plasma treatment and their effects on non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were investigated. The cell viability results have shown that plasma-derived compounds have both, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on cell viability, depending on the concentration of the generated compounds in the irradiated liquids. Previous studies have shown that oxidative stresses involving reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) can be used to kill cancer cells. Hence, while RONS offers promising first-step killing effects, cell viability results have shown that plasma-derived compounds, such as acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate, have the potential to play important roles in plasma-based cancer therapy.
Insights
Plasma-activated organics show potential in cancer therapy by increasing cancer cell death. Specific compounds like acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate influence cell viability, offering new avenues for treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Plasma Physics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas are emerging tools for cancer treatment.
- Understanding the role of plasma-generated reactive species and their biochemical pathway activation is crucial for optimizing cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the concept of antitumoral plasma-activated organics to enhance cancer cell cytotoxicity.
- To investigate the chemical compounds generated from plasma-treated Ringer's acetate solution and their effects on breast cells.
Main Methods:
- Ringer's acetate solution was treated with cold atmospheric pressure plasma.
- Chemical compounds formed in the plasma-treated solution were identified.
- The effects of these compounds on non-tumorigenic (MCF-10A) and cancerous (MCF-7) breast cells were evaluated by assessing cell viability.
Main Results:
- Plasma treatment of Ringer's acetate solution generated various chemical compounds.
- These plasma-derived compounds exhibited both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on cell viability, dependent on concentration.
- Compounds such as acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate were identified as potentially significant in plasma-based cancer therapy.
Conclusions:
- Plasma-activated organics present a novel strategy for cancer therapy.
- The identified compounds, beyond reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), play a key role in modulating cancer cell viability.
- Further research into these specific compounds could lead to more effective plasma-based cancer treatments.
