There is growing interest in the use of physical plasmas (ionized gases) for biomedical applications, especially in the framework of so-called “plasma medicine”, which exploits the action of low-power, atmospheric pressure plasmas for therapeutic purposes. Such plasmas are “cold plasmas”, in the sense that only electrons have a high temperature, whereas ions and the neutral gas particles are at or near room temperature. As a consequence, the “plasma flame” can be directly applied to living matter without appreciable thermal load. Reactive chemical species, charged particles, visible and UV radiation, and electric fields are interaction channels of the plasma with pathogens, cells, and tissues, which can trigger a variety of different responses. Possible applications include disinfection, wound healing, cancer treatment, non-thermal blood coagulation, just to mention some. The understanding of the mechanisms of plasma action on living matter requires a strongly interdisciplinary approach, with competencies ranging from plasma physics and technology to chemistry, to biology and finally to medicine. This book is a collection of work that explores recent advances in this field.

There is growing interest in the use of physical plasmas (ionized gases) for biomedical applications, especially in the framework of so-called “plasma medicine”, which exploits the action of low-power, atmospheric pressure plasmas for therapeutic purposes. Such plasmas are “cold plasmas”, in the sense that only electrons have a high temperature, whereas ions and the neutral gas particles are at or near room temperature. As a consequence, the “plasma flame” can be directly applied to living matter without appreciable thermal load. Reactive chemical species, charged particles, visible and UV radiation, and electric fields are interaction channels of the plasma with pathogens, cells, and tissues, which can trigger a variety of different responses. Possible applications include disinfection, wound healing, cancer treatment, non-thermal blood coagulation, just to mention some. The understanding of the mechanisms of plasma action on living matter requires a strongly interdisciplinary approach, with competencies ranging from plasma physics and technology to chemistry, to biology and finally to medicine. This book is a collection of work that explores recent advances in this field.

Non-Thermal Plasma Technology for Polymeric Materials: Applications in Composites, Nanostructured Materials and Biomedical Fields provides both an introduction and practical guide to plasma synthesis, modification and processing of polymers, their composites, nancomposites, blends, IPNs and gels. It examines the current state-of-the-art and new challenges in the field, including the use of plasma treatment to enhance adhesion, characterization techniques, and the environmental aspects of the process. Particular attention is paid to the effects on the final properties of composites and the characterization of fiber/polymer surface interactions. This book helps demystify the process of plasma polymerization, providing a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of plasma technology as they relate to polymers. It is ideal for materials scientists, polymer chemists, and engineers, acting as a guide to further research into new applications of this technology in the real world. - Enables materials scientists and engineers to deploy plasma technology for surface treatment, characterization and analysis of polymeric materials - Reviews the state-of-the-art in plasma technology for polymer synthesis and processing - Presents detailed coverage of the most advanced applications for plasma polymerization, particularly in medicine and biomedical engineering, areas such as implants, biosensors and tissue engineering

Clearly structured in five major sections on applications, this monograph covers such hot technologies as nanotechnology, solar cell technology, biomedical and clinical applications, and sustainability. Since the topic, applications and readers are highly interdisciplinary, the book bridges materials science, industrial chemistry, physics, and engineering -- making it a must-have for researchers in industry and academia, as well as those working in application-oriented plasma technology.

Cold plasma generated in an open environment with a temperature nearly around room temperature has recently been a topic of great importance. It has unlocked the door of plasma application in a new direction: biomedical applications. Cold atmospheric pressure (CAP) plasma comprises various neutral and charged reactive species, UV radiations, electric current/fields etc., which have several impactful effects on biological matter. Some of the significant biological effects of CAP plasma are inactivation of microorganism, stimulation of cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, destruction of cells by initializing apoptosis etc. Although the detailed mechanism of action of plasma on biomaterials is still not completely understood, some basic principles are known. Studies have indicated that the reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) play a crucial role in the observed biological effects. In this perspective, this chapter first provides a brief discussion on the fundamentals of CAP plasma and its generation methods. Then a discussion on the optical diagnostics methods to characterize the plasma is provided. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is used to identify the reactive species and to measure their relative concentration. Other important plasma parameters such as gas temperature, electron/excitation temperature and electron density measurement methods using OES have also been discussed. Then a discussion on the application of CAP plasma in biomedical field is provided. A thorough understanding of biochemical reaction mechanisms involving highly reactive plasma species will further improve and extend CAP plasma technology in biomedical applications.

Plasma Medical Science describes the progress that has been made in the field over the past five years, illustrating what readers must know to be successful. As non-thermal, atmospheric pressure plasma has been applied for a wide variety of medical fields, including wound healing, blood coagulation, and cancer therapy, this book is a timely resource on the topics discussed. - Provides a dedicated reference for this emerging topic - Discusses the state-of-the-art developments in plasma technology - Introduces topics of plasma biophysics and biochemistry that are required to understand the application of the technology for plasma medicine - Brings together diverse experience in this field in one reference text - Provides a roadmap for future developments in the area

The first book dedicated exclusively to plasma medicine for graduate students and researchers in physics, engineering, biology, medicine and biochemistry.

Based on a project backed by the European Union, this is a must-have resource for researchers in industry and academia concerned with application-oriented plasma technology research. Clearly divided in three sections, the first part is dedicated to the fundamentals of plasma and offers information about scientific and theoretical plasma topics, plasma production, surface treatment process and characterization. The second section focuses on technological aspects and plasma process applications in textile, food packaging and biomedical sectors, while the final part is devoted to concerns about the environmental sustainability of plasma processes.

This book presents the state of the art in clinical plasma medicine and outlines translational research strategies. Written by an international group of authors, it is divided into four parts. Part I is a detailed introduction and includes basic and recent research information on plasma sciences, plasma devices and mechanisms of biological plasma effects. Parts II and III provide valuable clinical insights f.e. into the treatment of superficial contaminations, ulcerations, wounds, treatment of cells in cancer, special indications like in heart surgery, dentistry, palliative treatment in head and neck cancer or the use of plasma in hygiene. Part IV offers information on how and where to qualify in plasma medicine and which companies produce and supply medical devices and is thus of particular interest to medical practitioners. This comprehensive book offers a sciences based practical to the clinical use of plasma and includes an extended selection of scientific medical data and translational literature.

Low-temperature plasmas (LTP) at atmospheric gas pressure play an increasing role in biomedical applications. The experimentally observed benefits of LTP for these applications are attributed to the controllable fluxes of chemically active species that can be produced in air at near room temperatures and delivered to bio-matter to induce desired effects. Recent research on the biomedical applications of LTP has generated new scientific knowledge regarding the interaction of plasma with soft matter including cells, tissues, seeds, and plants. The observed effects of LTP on biological cells are mediated by the plasma-produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). These include hydroxyl, OH, atomic oxygen, O, singlet delta oxygen, O2(1Δ), superoxide, O2-, hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, and nitric oxide, NO. Some of these species are known to play important roles in biology serving as signaling molecules in living organisms. When they come in contact with biological cells these species interact with the lipids and proteins of the cell membrane, enter the cell and increase the intracellular ROS concentrations, which can lead to DNA damage and may compromise the integrity of other cell organelles. ROS and RNS can also trigger cell signaling pathways, which can lead to cellular death by apoptosis or necrosis. Other plasma-generated agents that could play biological roles are charged particles (electrons and ions), UV photons, and electric fields.