Cold Plasma Technologies for Advanced Materials and Biomedical Applications: Research Highlights from LPP/ITA
Prof. Rodrigo Sávio Pessoa
Abstract
Cold plasma technologies have emerged as versatile tools for tailoring material properties, modifying surfaces, and generating reactive chemical environments under relatively mild processing conditions. Their unique combination of energetic electrons, reactive species, and controllable interactions with matter enables applications across materials science, nanotechnology, and biomedicine.
This seminar will present selected research activities conducted at the Laboratory of Plasmas and Processes (LPP) at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) in Brazil, highlighting advances in plasma physics, plasma-assisted materials processing, and biomedical applications.
The presentation will begin with an overview of the plasma research infrastructure at LPP/ITA, followed by examples of low-pressure and atmospheric-pressure plasma systems, plasma diagnostics, and computational modeling. Selected studies involving plasma-assisted surface modification, plasma etching, magnetron sputtering, and atomic layer deposition will illustrate approaches for tailoring the physicochemical properties of functional materials and polymeric substrates.
Particular attention will be devoted to plasma–liquid interactions and the development of plasma-activated water and liquids for biomedical applications. Experimental results concerning reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, antimicrobial activity, and potential applications in endodontics and biomaterial functionalization will be discussed.
Finally, current challenges and future research directions will be addressed, with an emphasis on opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in plasma science, advanced materials, and biomedical engineering.
Keywords: Cold plasma; Plasma–surface interactions; Functional materials; Plasma-activated water; Biomedical applications.
Contact: Abdou Djouadi
