ORCID

0000-0001-6871-9001 (Laroussi), 0000-0002-3901-179X (Dobbs)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2008

DOI

10.1002/ppap.200800014

Publication Title

Plasma Processes and Polymers

Volume

5

Issue

6

Pages

552-558

Abstract

In-depth studies on the interaction of nonthermal plasmas with microorganisms usually focus on bacteria; only little attention has been given to their effects on more complex eukaryotic cells. We report here nonthermal plasma's effects on cell motility, viability staining, and morphology of eukaryotic microalgae, with three marine dinoflagellates and a marine diatom as major targets. The effects on motility and viability staining depended on the time of exposure to plasma and the species of microalgae. We observed a strong pH decrease in aqueous samples (marine and freshwater algal cultures, their culture media, and deionized water) after exposure to plasma, and hypothesized this decreased pH as the principal mechanism by which plasma exerts its deleterious effects on cells in aqueous media. The hypothesis was supported by results of experiments in which decreasing the pH of algal samples (effected by addition of acid) caused the same morphological damage (as determined with scanning-electron microscopy) as did exposure to plasma.

Rights

Web of Science: "Free full-text from publisher -- gold open access."

Original Publication Citation

Tang, Y. Z., Lu, X. P., Laroussi, M., & Dobbs, F. C. (2008). Sublethal and killing effects of atmospheric-pressure, nonthermal plasma on eukaryotic microalgae in aqueous media. Plasma Processes and Polymers, 5(6), 552-558. doi:10.1002/ppap.200800014

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