• Vacuum Magazine
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.9-15
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• 2015

Nonthermal bio-compatible plasma (bioplasma) sources and their characteristics operating at atmospheric pressure could be used for biological cell interactions, especially for plasma bioscience and medicines. The electron temperatures and plasma densities of this bioplasma are measured to be 0.7 ~ 1.8 eV and $(3-5){\times}10^{14-15}cm^{-3}$, respectively. Herein, we introduced general schematic view of the plasma-initiated ultraviolet photolysis of water inside the biological solutions or living tissue for the essential generation mechanism of the reactive hydroxyl radical [OH] and hydrogen peroxide [$H_2O_2$], which may result in apoptotic cell death in plasma bioscience and medicines. Further, we surveyed the various nonthermal bioplasma sources including plasma jet, micro-DBD (dielectric barrier discharge) and nanosecond discharged plasma. The diseased biological protein, cancer, and mutated cells could be treated by these bioplasma sources or bioplasma activated water to result in their apoptosis for new paradigm of plasma bioscience and medicines.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.340-347
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• 2021

Among various metal oxide semiconductors, ZnO has an excellent electrical, optical properties with a wide bandgap of 3.3 eV. It can be applied as a photocatalytic material due to its high absorption rate along with physical and chemical stability to UV light. In addition, it is important to control the morphology of ZnO because the size and shape of the ZnO make difference in physical properties. In this paper, we demonstrate synthesis of size-controlled ZnO tetrapods using an atmospheric pressure plasma system. A micro-sized Zn spherical powder was continuously introduced in the plume of the atmospheric plasma jet ignited with mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The effect of plasma power and collection sites on ZnO nanostructure was investigated. After the plasma discharge for 10 min, the produced materials deposited inside the 60-cm-long quartz tube were obtained with respect to the distance from the plume. According to the SEM analysis, all the synthesized nanoparticles were found to be ZnO tetrapods ranging from 100 to 600-nm-diameter depending on both applied power and collection site. The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated by color change of methylene blue solution using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity increased with the increase of (101) and (100) plane in ZnO tetrapods, which is caused by enhanced chemical effects of plasma process.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2892-2897
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• 2008

Plasma techniques have been proposed to generate a hydrogen enrich gas to investigate a feasibility of plasma techniques on a fuel reforming, we considered a dry reforming and a partial oxidation with methane in the atmospheric pressure. For these experiments, we employed an arc jet plasma reactor. The effects of input power and oxidizer in each process were investigated by product analysis, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen, ethylene, propane, and acetylene as well as methane and carbon dioxide. In both processes, input electrical power activated the reactions significantly. The increased ratio of the carbon dioxide to methane in the dry reforming doesn't affect to a methane conversion, whereas increased ratio of oxidizer to methane in the partial oxidation was very effective for the reaction. Moreover, for a simultaneous treatment of methane and carbon dioxide, a feasibility of a dry reforming combined with partial oxidation also has been investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.206-206
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• 2016

플라즈마(plasma)란 전자와 이온이 분리된 제 4의 물질 상태이다. 이 연구의 핵심인 플라즈마 제트(plasma jet)로 재생과 출아를 하는 히드라(Hydra)를 처리하여 플라즈마가 히드라의 출아 정도에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지에 대해 연구를 진행하였다. 히드라는 자포동물문 히드로충강 히드로충목 히드라과 히드라속에 속하며 무척추동물이다. 몸의 길이는 약 5-15mm정도이며 촉수가 6-8개가 있다. 먹이 섭취는 촉수로 먹이를 마비시켜 입을 통해 먹는다. 히드라는 못이나 늪 등의 풀잎이나 물속에 떨어진 낙엽과 썩은 나뭇가지에 붙어 산다. 특히 히드라는 영양 상태의 좋고 나쁨에 따라 무성생식을 하거나 유성생식을 한다. 또한 약 1/200의 아주 작은 단위에서도 재생을 하는 특성을 가지고 있다. 이러한 히드라에 플라즈마 처리를 함으로써 플라즈마가 히드라의 출아 특성에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지에 대해 연구를 수행하였다. 실험에서 사용한 플라즈마 소스는 대기압 플라즈마 제트(Atmospheric pressure plasma jet)이며 Ar(아르곤) 가스를 이용하여 플라즈마를 발생시켰다. 플라즈마가 발생되면 생체용액과 반응을 하면서 ROS(reactive oxygen species)와 RNS(reactive nitrogen species)가 생성되는데 이 활성 종들이 플라즈마의 주요한 특성이라고 할 수 있다. ROS와 RNS에 의해서 세포가 사멸을 하거나 활성화되기도 한다. 또한, ROS와 RNS가 생체 시스템에 영향을 주는 것은 매우 잘 알려져 있다. 이 점을 이용하여 히드라를 1분, 5분, 10분 동안 플라즈마 처리하여 히드라의 출아 특성을 관찰하였다. 관찰한 결과 1분 처리한 히드라 Group과 5분 처리한 히드라 Group이 가장 개체 수 변화가 뛰어났고 10분 처리한 히드라Group은 오히려 개체 수가 감소하였다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.319-329
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• 2019

Purpose: Direct application of atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJs) has been established as an effective method of microbial decontamination. This study aimed to investigate the bactericidal effect of direct application of an APPJ using helium gas (He-APPJ) on Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms on sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium discs. Methods: On the SLA discs covered by P. gingivalis biofilms, an APPJ with helium (He) as a discharge gas was applied at 3 different time intervals (0, 3, and 5 minutes). To evaluate the effect of the plasma itself, the He gas-only group was used as the control group. The bactericidal effect of the He-APPJ was determined by the number of colony-forming units. Bacterial viability was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and bacterial morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: As the plasma treatment time increased, the amount of P. gingivalis decreased, and the difference was statistically significant. In the SEM images, compared to the control group, the bacterial biofilm structure on SLA discs treated by the He-APPJ for more than 3 minutes was destroyed. In addition, the CLSM images showed consistent results. Even in sites distant from the area of direct He-APPJ exposure, decontamination effects were observed in both SEM and CLSM images. Conclusions: He-APPJ application was effective in removing P. gingivalis biofilm on SLA titanium discs in an in vitro experiment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.230.2-230.2
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• 2016

A new approach for antimicrobial is based on the overproduction of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), especially; nitric oxide (NO) and peroxinitrite ($ONOO^-$-) are important factors to deactivate the bacteria. Recently, non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) has been frequently used in the field of microbial sterilization through the generation of different kinds of RNS/ROS species. However, in previous study we showed APPJ has combine effects ROS/RNS on bacterial sterilization. It is not still clear whether this bacterial killing effect has been done through ROS or RNS. We need to further investigate separate effect of ROS and RNS on bacterial sterilization. Hence, in this work, we have enhanced NO production, especially; by applying a 1% of HNO3 vapour to the N2 based APPJ. In comparison with nitrogen plasma with inclusion of water vapour plasma, it has been shown that nitrogen plasma with inclusion of 1% of HNO3 vapour has higher efficiency in killing the E. coli and different type of cancer cell through the high production of NO. We also investigate the enhancement of NO species both in atmosphere by emission spectrum and inside the solution by ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. Moreover, qPCR analysis of oxidative stress mRNA shows higher gene expression. It is noted that 1% of HNO3 vapour plasma generates high amount of NO for killing bacteria and cancer cell killing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.542-542
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• 2013

저온 플라즈마를 발생시키는 대기압 마이크로-플라즈마 젯(Micro-plasma jet)을 이용하여 플라즈마와 세포와의 상호작용에 대한 연구를 진행하였다. 세포의 대사과정에서 생성되는 활성산소 종(Reactive Oxygen Species, ROS)은 세포에 산화 스트레스를 유발시킨다. 이러한 스트레스는 세포 예정사(programmed cell death)의 원인이 된다. 플라즈마 형성 기체로 헬륨, 아르곤, 질소를 사용하여 각각의 기체에 따른 세포의 형태 변화 및 세포 내 활성 산소 종의 영향을 분석하였다. 실험에 사용된 세포는 인체의 폐암 세포[Human lung cancer cell, A549]이며 플라즈마 처리 후 Intracellular ROS assay를 통하여 플라즈마에서 발생되는 활성 산소 종(Reactive Oxygen Species, ROS)이 세포 내에 들어가 활성 산소 종을 증가시키는 것을 확인하였다. 이때, 플라즈마에서 발생되는 활성 산소 종(Reactive Oxygen Species, ROS)들은 광 방출 스펙트럼(Optical Emission Spectroscopy)로 분석하였고, 기체별로 비교하여 보았다. 또한, 이 때 발생되는 플라즈마의 전류-전압 특성에 따른 optical intensity를 비교하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.229-229
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• 2011

대기압 플라즈마 제트의 플라즈마 전파 현상을 조사하였다. 바늘침과 유리관으로 구성된 플라즈마 발생장치에 Ar을 주입하여 교류 고전압을 인가하면, 바늘침 전극부에 발생된 플라즈마가 길이방향에 따라 유리관 밖으로 전파된다. ICCD 초고속 카메라로 촬영한 결과, 고압부에 발생한 플라즈마 총알처럼 전파되는 것을 관측 되였다. 전파속도는 ~104 m/s이다. 이는 기체의 유속 ~10m/s 보다 훨씬 큰 값이다. 또한 광 프로브를 이용하여 광신호를 측정하였다. 광 신호가 고압 측부터 유리관 길이방향으로 순차적으로 전파되는 것이 관측 되었다. 전파 속도 ~104m/s으로 ICCD로 측정한 플라즈마 전파 속도와 일치한다.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.55-65
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• 2013

Sterilization of Neurospora crassa has been investigated in this research by using a surface air plasma with dielectric barrier discharged (DBD) structure under atmospheric pressure. The sinusoidal alternating current has been used in this experiment with discharge voltage of 1.4~2.3 kV. The phase difference between the voltage and current signals are found to be almost 80 degree due to the capacitive property of dielectric barrier. Temperature on the biomaterials has been minimized by radiating the heat with the air cooling system. It is noted that the substrate temperature remains under 37 degree for plasma exposure time of 10 minutes with operation of cooler system. It is found that the ozone, $O_3$, has been measured to be about 25~30 ppm within 1 cm region and to be about 5 ppm at the 150 cm downstream region away from the suface plasma. It is also noted that the nitric oxide, NO, and nitric dioxide, $NO_2$, are not nearly detected. Germination rate and mitochodrial activity of Neurospora crassa immersed in the deionized water have been found to be drastically decreased as the plasma treatment time and its electrical power are increased in this experiment. Here, the mitochondrial activity has been analyzed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethy lthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay. However, sterilization of Neurospora crassa immersed in the Vogel's minimal media has been found to be low by plasma treatment, which is caused by surrounding background solution. This research shows the sterilization possibility of Neurospora crassa by using the noncontated surface DBD plasma, which is different from the plasma jet. This is mainly attibuted to the reactive species generated by the surface plasma, since they play a major role for inhibition of micobes such as Neurospora crassa.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.339-339
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• 2011

진공 플라즈마와 달리 개방된 공간에서 방전되는 대기압 플라즈마는 진공상태에서 수행되는 에칭, 증착 등의 복잡한 플라즈마 공정을 경제적이고 신속하게 수행할 수 있어, 최근 들어 연구가 활발히 진행 중이다. 이와 관련하여 He, Ar, $N_2$, $O_2$, Air 등의 여러 종류의 기체를 50 kHz 고전압에서 방전하여 대기 중에서 저온 플라즈마 공정이 가능한 아크젯 타입의 플라즈마 소스를 개발하였다. 개발된 플라즈마 소스에서는 입력전압, 기체유량, 노즐의 구조와 크기 등의 여러 운전변수에 따라 플라즈마의 방전특성이 변화되었다. 특히 본 연구에서는 아크젯의 플라즈마 발생부의 물질성분(SUS, Aluminum, Cupper)에 따른 플라즈마의 기체온도 및 전자여기 온도의 변화를 광방출분광법(OES)를 이용한 Synthetic spectrum method와 Boltzmann plot method을 통해 살펴보았다. 전압-전류 특성곡선, 시간분해 이미지 촬영법, 기체온도 측정법 등을 이용하여 발생된 플라즈마의 물리적인 특성을 분석하였다. 특히 물질의 성분에 따라 발생되는 플라즈마의 기체 및 전자여기 온도가 이차 전자 방출계수 및 물질의 전도도와의 상관관계가 있는지 연구가 진행 중이다.