Jim Browning, Ph.D.

Summary:

Plasma Medicine. Atmospheric pressure ionized gases (plasma) have the potential for numerous uses in the field of medicine including treating chronic wounds and decontaminating surfaces. The research program is intended to develop a plasma source for generation of radical species such as nitric oxide. The atmospheric pressure source is intended for use in the treatment of chronic wounds by stimulating wound repair and by killing bacteria. The project includes development of the source and tests with the source on various tissue samples and gas detection systems.

Minimum Classes:

Chem 111 or equivalent

Projects:

Projects are intended for students in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, biology, and health sciences. The students, depending upon discipline, will build and test plasma sources and then use the sources to treat biofilms for bactericidal activity or treat simulated tissue for cellular response. Students will prepare the appropriate test sample, run the experiments, measure the results, and analyze these results for presentation.