Effect of Reactive Oxygen Species on model cancer and healthy cell membranes: a molecular dynamics study

Effect of Reactive Oxygen Species on model cancer and healthy cell membranes: a molecular dynamics study

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a new therapy recently developed for cancer treatment1-6. Studies have demonstrated that CAP is a very promising method for treatment different types of cancer in children and adolescents, including leukemia (accounting for approximately 1 out of 3 cancers in children)4, osteosarcoma5, and neuroblastoma6. The highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by plasma are thought to play a key role in entering cancer cells and responsible for apoptosis2,3,7. Recent studies suggest that the reason why CAP treatment selectively affects cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells undamaged is the difference in lipid composition of cancer and healthy cell membranes ? the cancer cells are deficient of cholesterol.

Grant Award – Kidscan Placement Student (2018- 2019)
Funding Award – £1,000
Funding Awarded To – Dr Anna Akinshina
Research Location – University of Salford
Lead Researcher –Dr Anna Akinshina