Plasma processing for environment and cell-biology

自20世纪60年代以来，通过使用“冷”(热力学非平衡)低压(LP)等离子体沉积薄膜和蚀刻技术在信息技术中取得了突出的地位。这两种工艺和第三种聚合物表面改性现在也被用于许多其他行业。最近，在实现大气压(AP)冷等离子体方面取得了很大进展，主要是介质阻挡放电(DBD)，用于这三种工艺类别。多年来，申请人实验室中的上述类型(LP-、AP-，但也有UV-光化学)的研究已经产生了450多篇被引用的出版物，24项专利，并向行业转移了大量技术。他建议继续创新研究(A)沉积在衬底上的有机薄膜，用于不同的生物医疗应用；在这里，3D电纺纳米纤维支架是一种特别有吸引力的衬底类型，在药物筛选和组织工程等几个使用领域具有非常强大的功能。纳米纤维上的生物活性细胞附着涂层必须具有丰富的某些类型的化学功能，如伯胺(-NH2)、羧基(Coor)或羟基(-OH)，它们必须与基材紧密结合，必须能抵抗大气中的“老化”和在水(细胞培养)介质中的溶解，以及其他标准。最后，当然，他们必须首先从正在培养的细胞类型(S)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，涉及以生物为导向的环境应用的冷AP等离子体，即农业(温室)背景下的水净化和植物施肥(固氮)。该项目需要完善两种类型的等离子体源：“射流”和“微波”，以及用于试点运行的合适的(脉冲)功率。就上述(A)和(B)两个主题而言，已经与包括工业界在内的其他互补性小组建立了强有力的合作关系；其中包括所有拟议次级项目领域正在处理的细胞生物和医学方面的专家。在过去的二十年里，申请人的实验室与麦吉尔大学和蒙特雷亚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的人员(HQP)；在拟议的计划过程中，预计将至少培训十(10)名年轻研究人员。

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.