Mechanism of inactivation of oral cancer cells irradiated by active oxygen species from DBD plasma

Inactivation effect of active oxygen species generated by torch-type dielectric barrier discharge on oral cancer cells was investigated. In order to irradiate cells directly with active oxygen species, the culture medium is removed from a culture dish. Activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (INK), p38 proteins, and p53 enzymes in oral cancer cells by active oxygen species indicated that the cells suffered apoptosis. Selective inactivation between cancer and normal cells was obtained by irradiation with active oxygen species for a relatively short period of less than 60 sec.