Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy of Alkaline Plasma-Activated Water through Augmented RONS Production

作者：Bolun Pang, Zhijie Liu, Yuting Gao, Xin Li, Sitao Wang, Qi Miao, Xinyi Zhao, Runze Fan, Dehui Xu, Patrick J. Cullen, Renwu Zhou · 发表于：ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1021/acsami.4c16518 · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Plasma Applications and Diagnostics、Electrohydrodynamics and Fluid Dynamics、Hydrogen's biological and therapeutic effects

Despite notable advances in anticancer drug development, their manufacture and use pose environmental and health risks due to toxic byproducts, drug residue contamination, and cytotoxicity to normal cells. Therefore, developing cost-effective anticancer treatments with fewer toxic side effects and higher selectivity is essential to the advancement of highly effective anticancer therapies. Plasma-activated water (PAW) offers a green alternative to conventional chemical treatments as it reverts to water within days. However, the limited duration and dose of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in acidified PAW restrict its clinical deployment and the full understanding of their mechanism. In this study, we propose alkaline PAW as an innovative enhancement of the RONS technology. The alkaline PAW generated markedly superior RONS, with about 10 times higher levels of NO 2 –, H 2 O 2, and ONOO – /O 2 •– than acidic PAW. The possible RONS generation pathways in alkaline PAW are analyzed by scavengers. In conventional acidic PAW, 70% of the H 2 O 2 concentration is contributed by • OH but only about 20% in alkaline PAW. ONOO – is mainly formed through the reaction of O 2 •– with NO in alkaline pH, while in acidic PAW, it mainly forms from NO 2 – and H 2 O 2 . The results unveiled the synergistic and formidable anticancer effects of alkaline PAW against cancer cells, typified by an increase in intracellular ROS/RNS levels. Furthermore, alkaline PAW injection also effectively p...