Interactions of a Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Effluent with PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells

The effect of a radio‐frequency driven, microscale non thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet operated in helium with vol. 0.3% molecular oxygen gas admixture, on PC‐3 prostate cancer cells has been investigated. The viability of cells exposed to the plasma was found to decrease with increasing plasma exposure time, with apoptosis through caspase and PARP cleavage being observed. High concentrations of nitrite and nitrate were detected in growth media exposed to the plasma and were found to increase in a time dependent manner post exposure. This indicates a slow release of reactive nitrogen species into the growth media, which is likely to influence cellular response to plasma exposure. The influence of a charge free atmospheric pressure plasma effluent on PC‐3 prostate cancer cells is investigated. Under these conditions apoptosis was found to proceed via the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Furthermore the liquid chemistry in growth media exposed to the plasma effluent is found to change over relatively long time periods. This has potential to be exploited for therapeutic purposes.