Plasma processing for environment and cell-biology

自20世纪60年代以来，通过使用“冷”（非平衡）低压（LP）等离子体的薄膜沉积和蚀刻在信息技术中取得了突出成就。这两个过程和第三个过程，聚合物的表面改性，现在也被用于许多其他行业。最近，在实施大气压（AP）冷等离子体，主要是介质阻挡放电（DBD）品种，这三个过程类别已经取得了很大的进展。多年来，申请人的实验室对上述类型（LP-、AP-以及UV-光化学）的研究已经产生了超过450篇参考出版物、24项专利以及向工业的大量技术转让。他建议继续对沉积在基底上的有机薄膜进行创新研究（A），以用于各种生物医学应用;在这里，3D电纺纳米纤维支架构成了一种特别有吸引力的基底类型，在药物筛选和组织工程等几个领域都非常强大。纳米纤维上的生物活性细胞粘附涂层必须富含某些类型的化学官能团，例如伯胺（-NH 2）、羧基（COOR）或羟基（-OH）基团，它们必须牢固地粘附于基底材料，必须抵抗大气中的“老化”和水性（细胞培养）介质中的溶解，以及其他标准。最后，当然，它们必须首先从培养的细胞类型中引发所需的生物反应。(B)第二个研究主题在申请人的实验室中是相当新的，涉及用于生物导向环境应用的冷AP等离子体，即农业（温室）背景下的水净化和植物施肥（固氮）。两种类型的等离子体源将被完善为该计划：一个“射流”和一个“微波”，沿着适当的（脉冲）功率的试点规模的操作。就上述两个主题（A）和（B）而言，已与包括工业界在内的其他互补团体建立了强有力的合作关系;这些团体包括在所有拟议的分项目领域都涉及的细胞生物学和医学方面的专家。在过去二十年中，申请人的实验室与麦吉尔大学和蒙特利尔大学医学院的高级研究人员建立了合作网络。一个关键的总体目标是培训高素质人员（HQP）;在拟议的计划过程中，预计至少有十（10）名年轻研究人员将接受培训。

Deposition of thin films and etching via the use of "cold" (thermodynamically non-equilibrium) low-pressure (LP) plasmas achieved prominence in information technology since the 1960s. Those two processes and a third, surface modification of polymers, are now also being used in many other industries. Recently, there has been much progress in implementing atmospheric-pressure (AP) cold plasmas, mostly the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) variety, for those three process categories. Research in the applicant's laboratory of the types above (LP-, AP-, but also UV-photochemical) has over the years resulted in over 450 refereed publications, in two dozen patents, and in much technology transfer to industry. He proposes to continue innovative research (A) on thin organic films deposited on substrates for use in diverse bio-medical applications; here, 3D electro-spun nano-fibre scaffolds constitute a particularly attractive substrate type, a very powerful one in several areas of use such as drug screening and tissue engineering. Bio-active cell-adhering coatings on nano-fibres must be rich in certain types of chemical functionalities such as primary amines (-NH2), carboxylic (COOR) or hydroxyl (-OH) groups, they must adhere strongly to the substrate materials, must resist "ageing" in atmosphere and dissolution in aqueous (cell-culture) media, among other criteria. Finally, of course, they must first and foremost elicit the desired bio-response from the cell-type(s) being cultured. (B) A second research theme, one that is quite new in the applicant's laboratory, involves cold AP plasmas for bio-oriented environmental applications, namely water decontamination and plant fertilization (nitrogen fixation) in an agricultural (greenhouse) context. Two types of plasma sources are to be perfected for this program: a "Jet" and a "microwave" one, along with suitable (pulsed) power for pilot-scale operation. For both themes cited above, (A) and (B), strong collaborations with other complementary groups, including industry, have been established; they include specialists in the cell-biological and medical sciences that are being addressed in all proposed sub-project areas. During the past two decades, the applicant's laboratory has developed networks of collaborations with senior researchers in the medical faculties of McGill and Montréal universities. A key overall objective is the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP); over the course of the proposed program it is foreseen that at least ten (10) young researchers will be trained.