Quantitative evaluation of biological effects of plasma-derived electric fields and elucidation of their mechanisms

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14700
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 14030:Applied plasma science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Okumura Takamasa 九州大学, システム情報科学研究院, 助教 (60801149)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ / 動物細胞 / 植物細胞 / 生体応答 / 化学種

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively evaluate and elucidate the mechanism of biological response induction technology using plasma. So far, in-situ measurements of conformational changes have shown reversible changes in the secondary and tertiary structure of proteins due to electric fields. Plasma also irreversibly fragmentate the primary structure. The optimal conditions for response induction were identified through phenotypic analysis and omics analysis of the biological response to plasma irradiation. Furthermore, a method for directly measuring a very small amount of plasma-induced active species, which has not been reported in the world, directly from the plasma-irradiated living body was created. This research is expected as a food production increase method that supports the realization of SDGs, requiring no additional agricultural land, water, nor fertilizer, and to contribute to different academic fields such as molecular biology transmitted by plasma science.

Free Research Field

プラズマ応用科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、プラズマ照射によって生体応答を誘導し、その機序解明を目的とした取り組みで、実施期間に多くの研究成果が世界へ発信された。本研究は、プラズマバイオ応用分野の理解の深化、また異分野への貢献といった学術的意義に加え、社会に対しては持続可能社会の構築に欠かせない革新的再生医療、創薬技術、食糧増産技術として還元可能であることから、社会的意義も大きい。