Plasmas for medicine

Research pertaining to conductive polymers has gained significant traction in recent years, and their applications range from optoelectronics to material science. For all intents and purposes, conductive polymers can be described as Nobel Prize-winning materials, given that their discoverers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000. In this review, we seek to describe the chemical forms and functionalities of the main types of conductive polymers, as well as their synthesis methods. We also present an in-depth analysis of composite conductive polymers that contain various nanomaterials such as graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and paramagnetic metal ions. Natural polymers such as collagen, chitosan, fibroin, and hydrogel that are structurally modified for them to be conductive are also briefly touched upon. Finally, we expound on the plethora of biomedical applications that harbor the potential to be revolutionized by conductive polymers, with a particular focus on tissue engineering, regene...

Conductive Polymers: Opportunities and Challenges in Biomedical Applications

Abstract The effects of gas composition on gliding arc (glidarc) electrical discharge reactors with pure water have been studied. The glidarc reactors utilized AC electrical discharges with two different electrode configurations. In one case a set of two stainless steel electrodes connected to a single power supply was placed in the gas phase over the liquid surface (power=250–300 W, maximum voltage=12 kV). The second experimental arrangement utilized a reactor with a set of three stainless steel electrodes supplied by two identical high-voltage transformers, where the electrodes were placed over the water surface or with the water sprayed directly in the plasma formed between the electrodes (power=500–600 W, maximum voltage=12 kV). The variation of pH and conductivity and the formation of hydrogen peroxide, ozone, nitrate, and hydrogen were measured. The effects of the type of gas, including pure oxygen, pure nitrogen, and dry air, were determined.

Formation of Reactive Species in Gliding Ark Discharge with Liquid Watet

Non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma processes combine several advantages such as non-thermal operation and high antimicrobial activity and are thus proposed to be a prospective alternative to traditional food preservation methods, which suffer from undesired alterations of food quality and a lack of acceptance by the consumer. This review summarizes the latest research work in the field of food science and technology dealing with the application of plasma processes on solid and liquid foodstuff. Starting with the historical background of plasma, the basic principles of plasma generation and of the complex plasma chemistry are highlighted and insights into plasma–surface and plasma–liquid interactions are given. Important research results in terms of plasma application on foods are presented with emphasis on the impact of the food matrix on microbial inactivation. Furthermore, the results of recent studies about the behavior of food quality-related components and attributes during plasma exposure are presented.

Interactions of Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma with Solid and Liquid Food Systems: A Review

We review new trends of agricultural applications of atmospheric-pressure plasmas for decontaminating agricultural products and enhancing seed germination and growth of plants and beneficial microorganisms. We classify the decontamination techniques into three kinds of treatments, which are gas-phase, in-liquid, and plasma-activated liquid treatments, and introduce recent studies mainly after 2010, discussing the inactivation mechanism of microorganisms in each treatment. Likewise, we categorize the enhancement techniques into the same three kinds of treatments, and introduce the growth enhancements in detail, discussing the mechanisms and future prospects.

Current status and future prospects of agricultural applications using atmospheric-pressure plasma technologies

Improvement of heat transfer with perforated circular holes in finned tubes of air-cooled heat exchanger

Use of plasma gliding arc discharges on the inactivation of E-Coli in water

The whole blood viscosity (WBV) is one of the major independent indicators for the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial diseases. Furthermore, oxidized LDL molecules are known to cause atherosclerotic plaques in arteries, and it is one of the key components that increase WBV. The present study attempted to reduce WBV by coagulating plasma proteins and lipid molecules from blood plasma using non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and removing them through filtration. The DBD treatment was found to produce coagulated particles in blood plasma. After filtration of the coagulated particles, WBV decreased by 9.1 and 17.7% for both systolic and diastolic blood viscosities, respectively. The present results suggest that the removal of excess plasma proteins and lipid molecules might be feasible using DBD treatment.

Dong H. Lee

Papers

Improvement of heat transfer with perforated circular holes in finned tubes of air-cooled heat exchanger

Use of plasma gliding arc discharges on the inactivation of E-Coli in water

Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Treatment of Blood Plasma to Improve Rheological Properties of Blood

Determination of hematocrit using on-line conductance cell

Non-Newtonian standard viscosity fluids☆