Plasma processing for environment and cell-biology

用于环境和细胞生物学的等离子体处理

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03685
• 负责人: Wertheimer, Michael
• 金额: $ 2.84万
• 依托单位: École Polytechnique de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=754606
• 关键词: Plasma; processing; environment; cell; biology

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.

自 20 世纪 60 年代以来，通过使用“冷”（热力学非平衡）低压 (LP) 等离子体进行薄膜沉积和蚀刻在信息技术领域取得了突出成就。这两种工艺和第三种工艺（聚合物的表面改性）现在也被用于许多其他行业。最近，在针对这三种工艺类别实施大气压 (AP) 冷等离子体（主要是介质阻挡放电 (DBD)）方面取得了很大进展。多年来，申请人实验室对上述类型（LP-、AP-，还有 UV-光化学）的研究已发表了 450 多篇参考文献、两打专利，并将许多技术转移到工业界。他建议继续对沉积在基材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多个应用领域中是一种非常强大的基底类型。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 (-NH2)、羧基 (COOR) 或羟基 (-OH) 基团，它们必须牢固地粘附到基材材料上，必须抵抗大气中的“老化”和水性（细胞培养）介质中的溶解，等等。最后，当然，它们首先必须从所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一个相当新的主题，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）。该计划将完善两种类型的等离子体源：“喷射”和“微波”等离子体源，以及适合中试规模操作的（脉冲）功率。对于上述两个主题（A）和（B），与其他互补团体（包括工业界）建立了强有力的合作；他们包括细胞生物和医学领域的专家，这些专家正在所有拟议的子项目领域中得到解决。在过去的二十年中，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养高素质人才（HQP）；在拟议计划的过程中，预计至少十（10）名年轻研究人员将接受培训。