Multi-Electrode DBD Plasma Torch Design with Drug Delivery Option for Wound Healing

Low-temperature non-equilibrium dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) are widely used in medicine, particularly for enhancing the wound healing process. The DBD plasma jet, when exiting the torch, entrains air and generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that play a critical role in healing. This study presents a new design in which a multi-electrode plasma torch was tested and characterized to demonstrate that RONS can be controlled without altering the operating conditions of the torch. Furthermore, the plasma torch was modified to incorporate a drug delivery system, allowing for the simultaneous application of the plasma jet as it scans a surface. Although the addition of drops into the plasma slightly affects the jet, it does not extinguish it. The passage of drops through the plasma was monitored, and images were captured to support the hypothesis that drug delivery can occur alongside plasma jet scanning, provided that the liquid is introduced drop-by-drop to prevent flooding within the plasma tube.