Plasma | Interview with the Author of a Highly Cited Paper—Prof. Vandana Miller
Prof. Vandana Miller is one of the authors of the highly cited article entitled “Inclusion of Biological Targets in the Analysis of Electrical Characteristics of Non-Thermal Plasma Discharge” published in Plasma (ISSN: 2571-6182).
The following is an interview with Prof. Miller:
1. Can you tell me a bit about your background and what your research focuses on?
I am a physician-scientist and a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. My research focuses on developing biomedical applications of non-thermal plasma (NTP), mostly cancer, virus infections, and wound healing. I am also interested in understanding the mechanisms of NTP action and the factors that determine “dose” for plasma medicine applications and safety.
2. What do you hope that readers will get from your paper?
The most important idea we wanted to communicate is that the interactions between NTP and a biological target are dynamic and evolve in real time. The plasma changes as the tissue changes because of the effects of the components of NTP. Therefore, we must always monitor both changes in the plasma and in the biological target. Characterizing one without the other tells only part of the story. This concept is important to the design of safe NTP-based therapeutic devices.
3. What are the current bottlenecks in this field, and how did you identify your research’s breakthrough point?
The biggest bottleneck in this field is a lack of research funding for plasma medicine in the US.
4. Are there follow-up studies planned based on this paper’s findings?
Indeed! Our ongoing studies are exploring how specific biological targets change plasma. Plasma medicine is based on the principles of redox biology. We know that cells that have a higher capacity to handle oxidative stresses are generally resistant to the effects of NTP. On the other hand, cells that are sensitive to NTP tend to have a lower capacity for managing oxidative stress. We are investigating the differences in the changes in plasma when NTP is applied to these two cell types. Our studies will give us insights into the feedback from different biological targets back to the NTP device.
5. Did your research involve cross-disciplinary collaboration? How did teamwork shape the outcomes?
Absolutely! I could not have done this without the leadership of Dr. Gershman, a physicist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory—my co-author. The learning curve for me as a biologist was quite steep. We had long discussions about very fundamental concepts until we could clearly define the problem—long before we embarked on our experimental journey. Next was the experimental design phase where we had to address the practical challenges of the aseptic environment needed for cell studies and what plasma diagnostic equipment was portable. Dr. Gershman had to design and fabricate some custom setups to make accurate measurements. In the end, we both learned a lot and now have a long-standing collaboration.
6. Did early-career researchers or students contribute to this work?
Of course! Without our students, we could achieve nothing. It is they who give life to our sometimes hairbrained ideas! Dr. Julia Sutter, my PhD student at that time, performed most of the experimental work.
I think plasma medicine should be the next frontier. The unique ability of NTP to deliver bioactive oxygen and nitrogen species controllably must be exploited for clinical use. Of special importance is the ability of plasma to reshape immune responses to control different diseases.