Investigating the role of transient reactive species in plasma cancer treatment using a newly developed microfluidic platform (PlasmaFlow)
Summary:
Cold atmospheric pressure electrical plasmas generate highly reactive chemistry at room temperature. This plasma reactivity influences sensitive biological organisms and can be used in medical applications. Plasmas in cancer care have led to a reduction in tumor volume. However, the fundamental interaction processes of plasma with living organisms are still poorly understood. The aim of PlasmaFlow is to reveal the role of plasma reactive species in cancer treatment. We will develop a novel microfluidic-based platform that links plasmas with biomedical model systems by a flow-controlled chemistry. In this international collaborative project, a team of physicists, chemists, bio-medical researchers, and engineers combines experimental and modelling expertise. We will investigate the kinetics and dynamics of key processes in plasmaliquidbio systems: In the proposed platform, a tailored reactive species composition will be delivered to cancer cell layers and cell stacks immobilized in a microfluidic chip, allowing us to quantify the cellular response. In this controlled environment, the plasma-liquid chemistry will be analyzed through 0D/2D chemical modeling, benchmarked by diagnostics of plasma parameters and reactive species in gas and liquid phase. The chemical modelling will include a numerical representation of the microfluidic channels. Our approach will form a key milestone to replace current empirical plasma treatment by knowledge-based, targeted plasma therapy.
Project Partners:
S. Reuter, A. Bogaerts, S. Coulombe, Th. Gervais, D. Rosenzweig, D. Boffito
Funding:
FWO & FRQ
Related Publications:
Coupling the COST reference plasma jet to a microfluidic device: a new diagnostic tool for plasma-liquid interactions J. Bissonnette-Dulude, S. Coulombe, T. Gervais and S. Reuter, Plasma Sources Science and Technology 2023 Vol. 32 Issue 5 Pages 055003 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6595/acc60d
Coupling the COST reference plasma jet to a microfluidic device: a computational study J. Bissonnette-Dulude, P. Heirman, S. Coulombe, A. Bogaerts, T. Gervais and S. Reuter Plasma Sources Science and Technology 2024 Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pages 015001 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6595/ad1421