Effect of non-thermal plasma on cells in presence of ionic liquids

Non-thermal plasma is emerging as a novel tool for the treatment of living tissues for biological and medical purpose¹. In this study we described the effect of plasma on human cancer cells in presence of ionic liquids (ILs)². ILs having unique protective metabolic roles and they are acting as antioxidants, providing protects macromolecules, enhance protein folding and regulate cell volume. ILs is beneficial for the development of new bioactive materials, for example as anti-microbial or anti-septics or as anti-fouling reagents, or even as potential anti-cancer therapeutic agent³. Based on these interesting properties of ILs, non-thermal plasma in presence of ILs appears to provide a new outlook. A result of this study reveals that ILs in presence of plasma inhibits the cancer cells growth. ILs may also act as protecting agent for normal healthy cells from the damaging/toxic effect of plasma.