Investigation of Oxychlorine Chemistry in Plasma Treated Saline Solutions

Abstract

The chemistry of plasma-liquid interaction is a fundamental process in biological activity of plasma on cancer cells. Various short and long-lived chemical species produced by plasma may participate in the cytotoxic and/or cell stimulation processes of plasma being in contact with the cells typically taking place through a liquid interface. These species can react at or penetrate through the plasma-gas/liquid interface and also initiate secondary chemical processes in the treated liquid/cell. The type and quantity of the reactive species formed by discharge plasma depend on the nature and the composition of the working gas and also on the properties of the liquid phase in the case of contact with plasma. It has been shown that several transient reactive oxygen and nitrogen species such as OH•, O2•-, NO• and NO2• radicals, peroxynitrite may be produced in plasma-treated liquids through post-discharge processes1. These species have highly cytotoxic properties and cause biochemical and antibacterial activity of plasma-treated solutions.