NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF INDIRECT COLD ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA FOR BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

Date

2025-9-01

Author

KEYKHALI, MAHSA

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Effective cancer therapy requires precise targeting of malignant cells while preserving healthy tissue. Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) is a promising modality, yet its mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy remain incompletely understood. This thesis presents an integrated methodology combining numerical modeling with experimental electrical characterization to deepen understanding of CAP–tissue interactions. Numerical simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics estimate electron densities on the order of 1016 m-3 in the plasma jet. Experimentally, breast tissue mimicking phantoms were exposed to a CAP jet from a custom-designed plasma source, with voltage–current measurements revealing a peak discharge current of ∼ 1 mA and delivered power of 2.174 W, consistent with reported safety thresholds. S11 parameter-based dielectric sensing monitored plasma-induced modifications non-invasively. Changes in S11 correlated quantitatively with alterations in phantom permittivity, conductivity, and impedance, demonstrating CAP-induced tissue analog modification. The study further elucidates the effects of input voltage, electrode positioning, and treatment duration, showing that longer exposure enhances dielectric modifications. This work establishes a quantitative framework linking plasma parameters to tissue dielectric responses and provides a foundation for real-time, noninvasive monitoring of CAP therapy, informing optimization of plasma treatment protocols in biomedical applications.

Subject Keywords

CAP, Cancer Therapy, Breast Tissue Phantom, Dielectric Sensing, S11 Parameter

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/115994

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Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis