Comprehensive biomedical applications of low temperature plasmas
Autor
Duarte, Simone
Panariello, Beatriz H.D.
Institución
Resumen
The main component of plasma medicine is the use of low-temperature plasma (LTP) as a powerful tool for
biomedical applications. LTP generates high reactivity at low temperatures and can be activated with noble gases
with molecular mixtures or compressed air. LTP reactive species are quickly produced, and are a remarkably
good source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species including singlet oxygen (O2), ozone (O3), hydroxyl radicals
(OH), nitrous oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Its low gas temperature and highly reactive nonequilibrium chemistry make it appropriate for the alteration of inorganic surfaces and delicate biological systems. Treatment of oral biofilm-related infections, treatment of wounds and skin diseases, assistance in cancer
treatment, treatment of viruses’ infections (e.g. herpes simplex), and optimization of implants surfaces are
included among the extensive plasma medicine applications. Each of these applications will be discussed in this
review article.