The effect of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet on DNA

In this study, we have investigated the interaction of a 'cold' Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ) with dry plasmid DNA. The plasmid DNA is observed to be very sensitive to short-term exposures to low energy electrons, ions and excited neutral species as well as to UV light, which are all components of the APPJ fed by helium. In order to determine the mechanisms that lead to strand breaks in the DNA, the APPJ exposure was carried out over a range of operating conditions.