The research will investigate non-thermal plasma and human cells interactions in an attempt to understand the in-depth mechanisms of plasma medicine.
Plasma medicine is a new and fast growing research area; the technology can be used in a variety of medical applications. It has been demonstrated to promote wound healing and treat cancer, deactivate dangerous pathogens, and control cellular and tissue matrices. The research on plasma cancer treatment has received significant attention across the world in recent years with promising results obtained from vitro and animal tests. Plasma is known to produce various reactive species through complex inter-facial physical and chemical reactions. It is vital to understand the reaction paths of these reactive species and their effects on human cells. The energetic charges, reactive oxygen species and hydroxyl radical have been identified to make contributions; while a variety of unknown effects are still to be determined such as stimulation of immune system.
This research will focus on the plasma and living cells interactions in an attempt to recover patients with diabetes-related foot problems. The research will identify the synergistic effects of plasma on the growth and recovery of living cells, communications between living cells under exposure to plasma, as well as the poisonous effects of plasma, through vitro and animal tests. The effects of plasma parameters on the interactions with living cells will also be investigated, such as the electron density and energy distribution, ions energy and density of non-thermal plasma, in an attempt to direct and optimise the process. The research will be based in the REN plasma laboratory in the Technology & Innovation Center (TIC), and in collaboration with the academic staffs from the biomedical engineering department.