Session: 17-01-01: Research Posters

Paper Number: 150215

150215 - Characterizing Plasma-Activated Water Required for Effective Wound Healing Process 

Low-temperature, non-equilibrium plasma jets find applications in medicine where these are used to accelerate wound healing and wound sterilization processes. As the wound is exposed to DBD plasma jets, the plasma interaction with water present in the wound plays an important role in generating radicals that are required for the wound healing process. 

In this study, the plasma-water interaction phenomenon was investigated. Plasma jets contain reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) which are generated as the surrounding air is entrained by helium plasma jets as it penetrates into the ambient air. The impinging jet then reacts with the water found at the surface of wounds to form new radicals. The presence of radicals has been proven to positively influence a wound’s inflammation, angiogenesis, and granulated tissue formation; these radicals can, for instance, act as signaling molecules for different stages of the inflammatory process within wounds. However, an excess presence of radicals can lead to oxidative stress and tissue damage. Therefore, it’s important to understand the delicate reaction that is the formation of these radicals within water. This study closely investigates the chemical reactions that take place in this plasma-water interaction by monitoring experimentally radicals like H2O2, NO3-, and NO2-.

In addition, H2O2 is a radical that has been linked to preventing pathogenic infection through both oxidation bursts and oxygen production within the wound. The presence of NO3- and NO2- has a direct correlation with the acquisition of collagen within wounds. Together, these radicals are critical for the wound healing process. In our experiment, the DBD plasma torch was operated at 10-12kV/30-40kHz on argon at 10SLPM to produce a plasma jet of about 20-30mm long. This torch was then set-up vertically adjacent to the water sample to establish an environment in which the plasma-water interaction could take place. Initial experiments determined that when the plasma exit was kept 30 mm above the water surface, there was a 54% decrease towards an acidic pH value after 30 minutes of exposure. The decrease in pH therefore solidifies that the experimental design was functioning and shows that the treatment creates an environment where radicals can accomplish their functions. The analysis of these radicals requires both reference curves to be established as a baseline and a calibration curve. Absorption spectroscopy was conducted to determine the presence of radicals by comparing plasma-activated water samples to the control water sample. The standard set of data was determined for each radical by measuring absorbance at varying concentrations of standard solutions with water to monitor what wavelength range it is more prevalent at. The curve fitting routine then demonstrated two important results. First, it can be determined how much each radical contributed to the plasma-activated water’s absorbance curves. Second, a linear relationship between radical concentration and peak intensity is seen within the graph. In this work, we will present both our reference curves and curve fitting routines for characterizing the plasma-activated water.

Presenting Author: Sonya Sar San Jose State University

Presenting Author Biography: Being a research intern at San Jose State University (in the Department of Mechanical Engineering), I'm very much interested in plasma technology. My particular interest is the use of plasma in medicine where plasma wound healing and wound sterilization can be benefited by this research.

Authors:

Sonya Sar San Jose State University
Sharon Mathew San Jose State University
Sohail Zaidi San Jose State University