PhD defence: : Exploration of Antibacterial Mechanisms of Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) - Effects on cell membranes during responses to oxidative stress
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has manifested its potential as alternative therapy in fighting multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and cancers. CAP delivers its “cocktail” to the targets and exerts its effects. Amongst this “cocktail”, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are proposed to dominate the major biological effects.
Cell membranes are considered the primary target of CAP. They are composed of mainly lipids and proteins, are important barriers to maintain cell integrity and protect cells from oxidative stress from RONS. Meanwhile, cell membranes fulfill essential functions during many cellular processes, such as transportation of matters and signaling between cells.
Dysfunction of cell membrane could eventually lead to cell death. However, the underlaying mechanisms of how CAP kills bacteria depending on conditions and how cell membranes are involved in these effects are not fully understood. Therefore, in this work, we aimed to conduct a systematic study and illustrate the potential mechanisms on how CAP inactivates bacteria under different conditions and how membrane lipid compositions affect the impairment of membranes.
We used different model membranes, from bacteria to liposomes made with defined lipid species, to investigate both chemical and biophysical effects in membranes induced by CAP. Alterations of membrane properties, including membrane oxidation, membrane packing, membrane potential, membrane permeabilization, and membrane curvature, were characterized. Afterwards, we correlated these chemical and biophysical modifications on membranes in order to elucidate the possible mechanisms. Together, these observations provide a wider and deeper insight on how to modulate parameters of CAP for future clinical applications.
- Start date and time
- End date and time
- Location
- Hybride: online (livestream link) and for invited guests in the Utrecht University Hall, Domplein 29
- PhD candidate
- M. Xie
- Dissertation
- Exploration of Antibacterial Mechanisms of Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) - Effects on cell membranes during responses to oxidative stress
- PhD supervisor(s)
- prof. dr. J.A. Killian
- Co-supervisor(s)
- dr. J.H.F. Lorent
- More information
- Full text via Utrecht University Repository