Change in the fragility of red cells by atmospheric, low temperature plasma irradiation and its application to molecular delivery to cells

Abstract

In recent years, many studies have been conducted on the applications of atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma to the sterilization of medical devices and to the surgical treatment. Furthermore, its application to molecular delivery to cells has been tested. However, the details of this process has yet to be clarified and a trial-and-error method is required to identify appropriate conditions for molecular delivery. In this study, we focused on the change in the fragility of the porcine red blood cells caused by plasma irradiation and assessed it using an optical method. The delivery of fluorescent molecules to cells by plasma irradiation was investigated. The thermal effect on the cells was negligible. The fragility of the porcine red blood cells increased when the plasma irradiation time was relatively short. The delivery of fluorescent molecules with a molecular weight of 807 to PC12 cells was confirmed.