ORCID
- Aidan D. Meade: 0000-0003-0353-9768
- George Amarandei: 0000-0002-6648-6635
Abstract
Research in applying various atmospheric plasma discharges to cancer treatment has progressed significantly in recent years. Atmospheric plasma discharges (DC and AC discharges or RF jets) can initiate cell death via the production of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RONS) in the intercellular medium. However, there remains a need to find proper metrics with which a plasma dose can be defined for use in practical work. In this work a spectroscopic, electrical and calorimetric evaluation of DC atmospheric plasma discharges from a pin cathode and a liquid submerged cylindrical anode is presented in an attempt to help define a plasma dose. Self-organized patterns (SOPs), in the shape of complex space charge structure configurations, were formed at the liquid surface for various currents. Alterations in pattern type and shape were observed with variation in the cathode-anode separation gap and applied voltage. Discharge emission spectra identified the presence of N2 (C3Π - B3Π) and the N2+ (B2∑u+ - X2∑u+) transitions. Importantly both sodium and singlet oxygen were detected within discharges, at 589 and 777 nm, respectively, in typical cell culture medium as Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium. The RONS concentrations, as reflected by the changes in their spectral signatures, were observed to increase with current supplied. Additionally, the SOPs presence in the DC discharges lead to an increase in the energy influx into the liquid and, consequently, to an increase in the temperature of the liquid anode.
Keywords
pin-to-liquid DC plasma discharge, reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RONS), self-organized patterns
DOI Link
Publication Date
2025-04-01
Publication Title
Physica Scripta
Volume
100
Issue
4
ISSN
0031-8949
Deposit Date
2025-08-07
Funding
The authors acknowledge the financial support through the Technological University Dublin research award scheme for this project.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Additional Links
Recommended Citation
Fleming, H., Meade, A., & Amarandei, G. (2025) 'Self-organized complex space charge structure configurations at plasma-liquid interfaces in pin-to-liquid DC discharges', Physica Scripta, 100(4). Available at: 10.1088/1402-4896/adbcfe