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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Basic Research in Plasma Medicine - A Throughput Approach from Liquids to Cells
Published on: November 17, 2017
Mapping bioactive response pathways to cold plasma processing in food matrices: mechanisms, hybrid processing, and
Sadaf Mustafa1, Xiao Yang1, Kevin M Keener2
1School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; Academy of Contemporary Food Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China; Engineering and Technological Research Centre of Guangdong Province on Intelligent Sensing and Process Control of Cold Chain Foods, & Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Cold Chain Logistics Equipment for Agricultural Products, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Cold plasma-assisted extraction (CPAE) offers efficient, non-thermal recovery of bioactive compounds from food. This sustainable method enhances yields, reduces solvent use, and supports clean-label ingredient development.
Area of Science:
- Food Science & Technology
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Cold plasma-assisted extraction (CPAE) is a novel non-thermal technology.
- It utilizes reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), UV photons, and electric fields.
- CPAE operates near ambient temperatures, preserving heat-sensitive compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in CPAE for bioactive compound recovery.
- To analyze interaction mechanisms, process parameters, and outcomes across diverse food matrices.
- To compare CPAE with conventional and emerging extraction techniques.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing recent research on CPAE.
- Analysis of plasma-food matrix interactions and parameter-response relationships.
- Comparative assessment of CPAE against other extraction methods.
Main Results:
- CPAE significantly enhances extraction yields (2-5x for phenolics/anthocyanins) and reduces solvent consumption (up to 50%).
- Hybrid strategies (e.g., plasma with ultrasound, enzymes) improve selectivity and performance.
- CPAE demonstrates potential for sustainable, circular, and clean-label food ingredient production.
Conclusions:
- CPAE is a versatile and sustainable technology for bioactive compound extraction.
- Further research on scalability, regulation, and potential chemical modifications is needed.
- CPAE holds significant promise for the future of food ingredient processing.
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