PLASNOW – Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of plasma-generated ROS/RNS/RCS in solution and their Impact on Biomolecules Relevant for Wound Healing

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Nils Metzler-Nolte
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405545540

This project investigates the chemical species in solution which are produced by non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma, with the aim to elucidate the biological consequences of plasma-generated reactive species relevant for wound healing. This project will be carried out in collaboration with several partners within the PlasNOW consortium. Our contribution in this project is to identify reactive species in solution formed by plasma treatment, quantify them in dependence of the plasma composition and fluence, and trace their origin and fate in model amino acids and peptides. To quantify species in solution (saline, buffered solutions, cell culture media and authentic wound liquid) we will use colorimetric assays and direct spectroscopic techniques such as in situ EPR spectrocopy and NMR spectroscopy as appropriate, as well as chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry for larger molecules. We will use isotopic labelling techniques (15N and 18O) to verify whether plasma-modified amino acid and peptide derivatives are formed by mass transfer with plasma-generated reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (ROS or RNS), or indirectly through energy transfer. We also propose to investigate (for the first time) reactive chlorine species (RCS) which are likely formed in chloride-containing buffers but have received very little attention so far. This project is enabled by access to two different well-characterized plasma sources through our cooperation partners and their knowledge of plasma compositions and gas-phase species (Awakowicz and Schulz-von der Gathen, both at RUB). It also interfaces to a biomedical cooperation partner where plasma effects on wound healing are investigated and quantified in animal eperiments. The contribution described herein is in describing and quantifying the relevant reactive species in solution on a molecular level, and in fibroblast cell culture.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants