[Paper Review] Plasma Medicine and Osmosis

Mikhail N. Shneider, Mikhail Pekker|arXiv (Cornell University)|Dec 12, 2017

Electrohydrodynamics and Fluid Dynamics24 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes that osmotic pressure changes induced by weakly ionized plasma jets significantly influence cellular membrane mechanics in plasma medicine. By altering the ion-molecular composition of saline solutions, plasma exposure shifts osmotic gradients, leading to membrane stretching or compression—offering a mechanistic explanation for selective plasma-induced cell effects based on altered membrane integrity and mechanical properties.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, attention is drawn to the importance of accounting for osmotic pressure when analyzing physiological effects on cellular structures in plasma medicine. Interaction of a weakly ionized plasma jet with a saline solution leads to a detectable changes in the saline's ion-molecular composition and hence changes in the osmotic pressure. This, in turn, leads to a stretching or compression of the membrane, depending on the difference of total external and internal pressures. The selective effect of plasma on cells, observed in experiments, is associated with the change in the mechanical properties of membranes (and thereby, a weakening of their protective properties). Corresponding estimates are given in the article.

Motivation & Objective

• To investigate the role of osmotic pressure in mediating plasma-induced effects on cellular structures.
• To analyze how weakly ionized plasma jets modify the ion-molecular composition of saline solutions.
• To link changes in osmotic pressure to mechanical deformation of cell membranes (stretching or compression).
• To explain the selective action of plasma on cells through alterations in membrane mechanical properties.
• To provide quantitative estimates of osmotic and mechanical effects relevant to plasma medicine applications.

Proposed method

• Modeling the interaction of a weakly ionized plasma jet with a saline solution to assess changes in ion-molecular composition.
• Calculating osmotic pressure variations based on changes in solute concentration following plasma exposure.
• Applying the osmotic pressure difference between external and internal cellular environments to predict membrane deformation.
• Using mechanical equilibrium principles to determine whether membranes stretch or compress under osmotic stress.
• Estimating the magnitude of osmotic pressure changes and their resulting mechanical stress on cell membranes.
• Relating observed experimental selectivity in plasma treatment to differential membrane mechanical responses driven by osmotic effects.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How does plasma exposure alter the ion-molecular composition of saline solutions used in plasma medicine?
• RQ2 To what extent do plasma-induced changes in solute concentration affect osmotic pressure in physiological environments?
• RQ3 How does the resulting osmotic pressure difference influence the mechanical state of cell membranes (e.g., stretching or compression)?
• RQ4 What is the contribution of osmotic forces to the selective targeting of cells in plasma medicine?
• RQ5 How do changes in membrane mechanical properties correlate with observed experimental outcomes in plasma-treated cells?

Key findings

• Plasma jet exposure induces measurable changes in the ion-molecular composition of saline solutions, leading to altered osmotic pressure.
• The resulting osmotic pressure difference between the extracellular and intracellular environments drives mechanical deformation of cell membranes.
• Membranes experience stretching if external osmotic pressure is lower than internal, and compression if higher.
• The mechanical weakening of membranes due to osmotic stress provides a plausible mechanism for selective plasma action on certain cell types.
• Quantitative estimates show that plasma-induced osmotic changes are sufficient to significantly alter membrane mechanics.
• The model explains experimental observations of selective cell effects in plasma medicine through osmotically driven mechanical stress on membranes.