Cold Plasma and Electric Field Induced Change in Electric Properties of Cancer Cells in Vitro

Nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) have shown effectiveness for the treatment of tumors in vitro. Similarly, nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field (nsPEF) has been investigated as anti-cancer therapy for its ability to permeabilize cells, disrupt electrolytes/ions balance and create oxidative injury. We report here the effects of a nanosecond pulsed APPJ and nsPEF employed alone or in combination on pancreatic cancer cells (Pan02) viability, proliferation and loss of integrity when cells were seeded as a monolayer. Driven by >8 kV, 200 ns pulses at 2 kHz, the APPJ completely inhibited cells proliferation after 1 min treatment when compared to control (p<0.0001), while nsPEF treatment (60 ns, 50 kV/cm, for 20 s at 1 Hz) alone had no effect on cell proliferation (p>0.05). Additionally, we confirmed the APPJ’s ability to disrupt cancer "stability" by provoking changes in transepithelial resistance, indicating an irreversible cell injury (p<0.001), after the APPJ treatment for 3 min. As the impedance of compromised or dying cells are different, typically lower than cancer cells 1 , this study examines the synergistic effects of the APPJ and nsPEF with additional information on the bioeffects .