ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2032-6377
Current Organisations
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
,
Australian National University
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 25-04-2022
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 06-2021
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 08-05-2019
Abstract: Interactions between effects generated by cold atmospheric-pressure plasmas and water have been widely investigated for water purification, chemical and nanomaterial synthesis, and, more recently, medicine and biotechnology. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) play critical roles in transferring the reactivity from gas plasmas to solutions to induce specific biochemical responses in living targets, e.g., pathogen inactivation and biofilm removal. While this approach works well in a single-organism system at a laboratory scale, integration of plasma-enabled biofilm removal into complex real-life systems, e.g., large aquaculture tanks, is far from trivial. This is because it is difficult to deliver sufficient concentrations of the right kind of species to biofilm-covered surfaces while carefully maintaining a suitable physiochemical environment that is healthy for its inhabitants, e.g., fish. In this work, we show that underwater microplasma bubbles (generated by a microplasma-bubble reactor that forms a dielectric barrier discharge at the gas-liquid interface with the applied voltage of 4.0 kV) act as transport vehicles to efficiently deliver reactive plasma species to the target biofilm sites on artificial and living surfaces while keeping healthy water conditions in a multispecies system. The as-generated air microplasma bubbles and plasma-activated water (PAW) both can effectively reduce the existing pathogenic biofilm load by ∼83 and 60%, respectively, after 15 min of discharge at 40 W and prevent any new biofilm from forming. The generation of underwater microplasma bubbles in a custom-made fish tank for less than a minute per day (20 s per time, twice daily) can introduce sufficient quantities of RONS into PAW to reduce the biofilm-infected area by ∼80-90% and improve the health status of Cichlasoma synspilum × Cichlasoma citrinellum blood parrot cichlid fish. Species generated include hydrogen peroxide, ozone, nitrite, nitrate, and nitric oxide. Using mimicked chemical solutions, we show that the plasma-induced nitric oxide acts as a critical bioactive species that triggers the release of cells from the biofilm and their inactivation.
Publisher: AIP Publishing
Date: 02-2020
DOI: 10.1063/1.5109141
Abstract: There are a number of pressing problems mankind is facing today that could, at least in part, be resolved by space systems. These include capabilities for fast and far-reaching telecommunication, surveying of resources and climate, and sustaining global information networks, to name but a few. Not surprisingly, increasing efforts are now devoted to building a strong near-Earth satellite infrastructure, with plans to extend the sphere of active life to orbital space and, later, to the Moon and Mars if not further. The realization of these aspirations demands novel and more efficient means of propulsion. At present, it is not only the heavy launch systems that are fully reliant on thermodynamic principles for propulsion. Satellites and spacecraft still widely use gas-based thrusters or chemical engines as their primary means of propulsion. Nonetheless, similar to other transportation systems where the use of electrical platforms has expanded rapidly, space propulsion technologies are also experiencing a shift toward electric thrusters that do not feature the many limitations intrinsic to the thermodynamic systems. Most importantly, electric and plasma thrusters have a theoretical capacity to deliver virtually any impulse, the latter being ultimately limited by the speed of light. Rapid progress in the field driven by consolidated efforts from industry and academia has brought all-electric space systems closer to reality, yet there are still obstacles that need addressing before we can take full advantage of this promising family of propulsion technologies. In this paper, we briefly outline the most recent successes in the development of plasma-based space propulsion systems and present our view of future trends, opportunities, and challenges in this rapidly growing field.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-06-2018
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1039/D2NH00546H
Abstract: Low-dimensional copper oxide nanostructures are a promising family of functional nanomaterials. This article reviews recent progress in fabrication technologies for CuO nanostructures and gives ex les of their leading-edge applications.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 05-04-2018
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS201804.0060.V1
Abstract: The persistent issue of bacterial and fungal colonization of artificial implantable materials and decreasing efficacy of conventional systemic antibiotics used to treat implant-associated infections has led to the development of a wide range of antifouling and antibacterial strategies. This article reviews one such strategy where inherently biologically active renewable resources, i.e. secondary plant metabolites (SPMs) and their naturally occurring combinations (i.e. essential oils) are used for surface functionalization and synthesis of polymer thin films. With a distinct mode of antibacterial activity, broad spectrum of action and ersity of available chemistries, secondary plant metabolites present an attractive alternative to conventional antibiotics. However, their conversion from liquid to solid phase without significant loss of activity is not trivial. Using select ex les, this article shows how plasma techniques provide a sufficiently flexible and chemically reactive environment to enable the synthesis of biologically-active polymer-coatings from volatile renewable resources.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-11-2020
Abstract: Rich in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, cold atmospheric plasma has been shown to effectively control events critical to cancer progression selectively inducing apoptosis, reducing tumor volume and vasculature, and halting metastasis by taking advantage of, e.g., synergies between hydrogen peroxide and nitrites. This paper discusses the efficacy, safety and administration of cold atmospheric plasma treatment as a potential tool against cancers, with a focus on the mechanisms by which cold atmospheric plasma may affect critical transitional switches that govern tumorigenesis: the life/death control, tumor angiogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and drug sensitivity spectrum. We introduce the possibility of modeling cell transitions between the normal and cancerous states using cold atmospheric plasma as a novel research avenue to enhance our understanding of plasma-aided control of oncogenesis.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2013
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 23-09-2019
DOI: 10.3390/MA12193099
Abstract: In this report, the electrical properties of plasma polymer films functionalized with ZnO nanoparticles were investigated with respect to their potential applications in biomaterials and microelectronics fields. The nanocomposite films were produced using a single-step method that combines simultaneous plasma polymerization of renewable geranium essential oil with thermal decomposition of zinc acetylacetonate Zn(acac)2. The input power used for the deposition of composites were 10 W and 50 W, and the resulting composite structures were abbreviated as Zn/Ge 10 W and Zn/Ge 50 W, respectively. The electrical properties of pristine polymers and Zn olymer composite films were studied in metal–insulator–metal structures. At a quantity of ZnO of around ~1%, it was found that ZnO had a small influence on the capacitance and dielectric constants of thus-fabricated films. The dielectric constant of films with smaller-sized nanoparticles exhibited the highest value, whereas, with the increase in ZnO particle size, the dielectric constant decreases. The conductivity of the composites was calculated to be in the in the range of 10−14–10−15 Ω−1 m−1, significantly greater than that for the pristine polymer, the latter estimated to be in the range of 10−16–10−17 Ω−1 m−1.
Publisher: Trans Tech Publications, Ltd.
Date: 08-2010
DOI: 10.4028/WWW.SCIENTIFIC.NET/AMR.123-125.323
Abstract: Poly(linalool) thin films were fabricated using RF plasma polymerisation. All films were found to be smooth, defect-free surfaces with average roughness of 0.44 nm. The FTIR analysis of the polymer showed a notable reduction in –OH moiety and complete dissociation of C=C unsaturation compared to the monomer, and presence of a ketone band absent from the spectrum of the monomer. Poly(linalool) were characterised by chain branching and a large quantity of short polymer chains. Films were optically transparent, with refractive index and extinction coefficient of 1.55 and 0.001 (at 500 nm) respectively, indicating a potential application as an encapsulating (protective) coating for circuit boards. The optical band gap was calculated to be 2.82 eV, which is in the semiconducting energy gap region.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-01-2011
DOI: 10.3390/POLYM3010388
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 13-08-2015
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.NANOLETT.5B01363
Abstract: Details of a fast and sustainable bottom-up process to grow large area high quality graphene films without the aid of any catalyst are reported in this paper. We used Melaleuca alternifolia, a volatile natural extract from tea tree plant as the precursor. The as-fabricated graphene films yielded a stable contact angle of 135°, indicating their potential application in very high hydrophobic coatings. The electronic devices formed by sandwiching pentacene between graphene and aluminum films demonstrated memristive behavior, and hence, these graphene films could find use in nonvolatile memory devices also.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1039/C8GC02800A
Abstract: Here the possibility of plasma-activated water being a green disinfectant, whose bioactivity is closely linked to peroxynitrite generation, was demonstrated.
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Date: 02-2018
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1039/C8NR06502K
Abstract: Oxygen plasmas feature certain properties that make them attractive not only for material removal via etching and sputtering, but also for driving and sustaining nucleation and growth of various nanostructures in plasma bulk and on plasma-exposed surfaces.
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 20-05-2020
Publisher: AIP Publishing
Date: 06-2018
DOI: 10.1063/1.5024865
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-03-2011
DOI: 10.1557/JMR.2011.23
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-10-2019
Abstract: Conversion of renewable biomass by time- and energy-efficient techniques remains an important challenge. Herein, plasma catalytic liquefaction (PCL) is employed to achieve rapid liquefaction of microalgae under mild conditions. The choice of the catalyst affects both the liquefaction efficiency and the yield of products. The acid catalyst is more effective and gave a liquid yield of 73.95 wt % in 3 min, as opposed to 69.80 wt % obtained with the basic catalyst in 7 min. Analyses of the thus-formed products and the processing environment reveal that the enhanced PCL performance is linked to the rapid increase in temperature under the effect of plasma-induced electric fields and the generation of large quantities of reactive species. Moreover, the obtained solid residue can be simply upgraded to a carbon product suitable for supercapacitor applications. Therefore, the proposed strategy may provide a new avenue for fast and comprehensive utilization of biomass under benign conditions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1016/J.TIBTECH.2022.08.001
Abstract: Global environmental, social, and economic challenges call for innovative solutions to food production. Current food production systems require advances beyond traditional paradigms, acknowledging the complexity arising from sustainability and a present lack of awareness about technologies that may help limit, for ex le, loss of nutrients from soil. Aquaponics, a closed-loop system that combines aquaculture with hydroponics, is a step towards the more efficient management of scarce water, land, and nutrient resources. However, its large-scale use is currently limited by several significant challenges of maintaining desirable water chemistry and pH, managing infections in fish and plants, and increasing productivity efficiently, economically, and sustainably. This paper investigates the opportunities presented by plasma technologies in meeting these challenges, potentially opening new pathways for sustainability in food production.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2014
Publisher: American Scientific Publishers
Date: 12-2012
Publisher: Trans Tech Publications, Ltd.
Date: 06-2010
DOI: 10.4028/WWW.SCIENTIFIC.NET/MSF.654-656.1764
Abstract: This study presents the effect of iodine doping on optical and surface properties of polyterpenol thin films deposited from non-synthetic precursor by means of plasma polymerisation. Spectroscopic ellipsometry studies showed iodine doping reduced the optical band gap from 2.82 eV to 1.50 eV for pristine and doped s les respectively. Higher levels of doping notably reduced the transparency of films, an issue if material is considered for applications that require high transparency. Contact angle studies demonstrated higher hydrophilicity for films deposited at increased doping levels, results confirmed by XPS Spectroscopy and FTIR. Doping had no significant effect on the surface profile or roughness of the film.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-05-2012
DOI: 10.1007/S00253-012-4144-7
Abstract: Biomaterials play a fundamental role in disease management and the improvement of health care. In recent years, there has been a significant growth in the ersity, function, and number of biomaterials used worldwide. Yet, attachment of pathogenic microorganisms onto biomaterial surfaces remains a significant challenge that substantially undermines their clinical applicability, limiting the advancement of these systems. The emergence and escalating pervasiveness of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains makes the management of biomaterial-associated nosocomial infections increasingly difficult. The conventional post-operative treatment of implant-caused infections using systemic antibiotics is often marginally effective, further accelerating the extent of antimicrobial resistance. Methods by which the initial stages of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation can be restricted or prevented are therefore sought. The surface modification of biomaterials has the potential to alleviate pathogenic biofouling, therefore preventing the need for conventional antibiotics to be applied.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 15-09-2020
Abstract: Efficient and selective internalization of nanoscale diamonds (also termed nanodiamonds, NDs) by living cells is of fundamental importance for their bionanotechnological applications. The biocompatibility of NDs is well established and has been suggested to arise from the limited membrane perturbation during their cellular translocation. However, the latter may be affected when cells are subjected to external stress. This study shows that the oxidative stress generated by atmospheric pressure cold plasmas (APCP) alters cell sensitivity to NDs, and their cytotoxicity profile. Both positively and negatively charged NDs are nontoxic to cells, here
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-0940-9_13
Abstract: Extracellular polysaccharides are as structurally and functionally erse as the bacteria that synthesise them. They can be present in many forms, including cell-bound capsular polysaccharides, unbound "slime", and as O-antigen component of lipopolysaccharide, with an equally wide range of biological functions. These include resistance to desiccation, protection against nonspecific and specific host immunity, and adherence. Unsurprisingly then, much effort has been made to catalogue the enormous structural complexity of the extracellular polysaccharides made possible by the wide assortment of available monosaccharide combinations, non-carbohydrate residues, and linkage types, and to elucidate their biosynthesis and export. In addition, the work is driven by the commercial potential of these microbial substances in food, pharmaceutics and biomedical industries. Most recently, bacteria-mediated environmental restoration and bioleaching have been attracting much attention owing to their potential to remediate environmental effluents produced by the mining and metallurgy industries. In spite of technological advances in chemistry, molecular biology and imaging techniques that allowed for considerable expansion of knowledge pertaining to the bacterial surface polysaccharides, current understanding of the mechanisms of synthesis and regulation of extracellular polysaccharides is yet to fully explain their structural intricacy and functional variability.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.ACTBIO.2010.12.024
Abstract: Despite many synthetic biomaterials having physical properties that are comparable or even superior to those of natural body tissues, they frequently fail due to the adverse physiological reactions they cause within the human body, such as infection and inflammation. The surface modification of biomaterials is an economical and effective method by which biocompatibility and biofunctionality can be achieved while preserving the favorable bulk characteristics of the biomaterial, such as strength and inertness. Amongst the numerous surface modification techniques available, plasma surface modification affords device manufacturers a flexible and environmentally friendly process that enables tailoring of the surface morphology, structure, composition, and properties of the material to a specific need. There are a vast range of possible applications of plasma modification in biomaterial applications, however, the focus of this review paper is on processes that can be used to develop surface morphologies and chemical structures for the prevention of adhesion and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria on the surfaces of in-dwelling medical devices. As such, the fundamental principles of bacterial cell attachment and biofilm formation are also discussed. Functional organic plasma polymerised coatings are also discussed for their potential as biosensitive interfaces, connecting inorganic/metallic electronic devices with their physiological environments.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1039/C8MH00326B
Abstract: Millimetre-scale patterns formed by plasmas above a surface can drive the formation of and at the same time be directly affected by nano- and micro-scale patterns on that surface.
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Date: 02-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2015
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1039/C4RA17244B
Abstract: This article reviews antibacterial surface strategies based on reactive plasma chemistry, focusing on how plasma-assisted processing of natural antimicrobial agents can produce antifouling and antibacterial materials for biomedical devices.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-05-2015
DOI: 10.1002/APP.42318
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-04-2015
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1039/D1RA05459G
Abstract: Membrane model systems capable of mimicking live cell membranes were used for the first time in studying the effects arising from electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of 18 GHz where membrane permeability was observed following exposure.
Publisher: Trans Tech Publications, Ltd.
Date: 06-2010
DOI: 10.4028/WWW.SCIENTIFIC.NET/MSF.654-656.2261
Abstract: Terpinen-4-ol is the main constituent of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil known for its biocidal and anti-inflammatory properties. The possibility of fabricating polymer thin films from terpinen-4-ol using radio frequency (RF) plasma polymerisation for the prevention of the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated, and the properties of the resultant films compared against their biologically active precursor. Films fabricated at 10 W prevented bacterial attachment and EPS secretion, whilst polyterpenol films deposited at 25 W demonstrated no biocidal activity against the pathogen.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-11-2011
DOI: 10.1557/JMR.2011.349
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-04-2018
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 14-08-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-01-2021
DOI: 10.1111/JADE.12348
Abstract: Current studies in design education suggest that students and educators base their designs on what they already know about themselves and their peers, or on stereotypical notions of others. This article presents a critical examination of a pedagogical approach employed in several architecture and interior design studios to determine how best to develop student understanding of how to design for real users and users with abilities different from themselves. This authentic learning approach with spatial design students and teachers from the School of Design, Queensland University of Technology, Australia and with people with differing abilities, used qualitative and quantitative questionnaires, student journals and design studio projects to create a multimodal data set. While there are no simple conclusions, or easy answers to unravel the complexity in creating inclusive designs, our findings point towards enabling new engagements and knowledge processes and scaffolding these activities around authentic learning, so that design students and educators can begin to understand the differing ways of designing for/with people with disabilities. The significance of this research is that it opens up new approaches for teaching design students about inclusive design beyond fake personas, building codes and anthropometric data, and provides evidence of the need for a more holistic, authentic and scaffolded approach.
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 15-10-2015
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 27-02-2019
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1039/C8TA11374B
Abstract: A novel approach to significantly enhance and comprehensively assess the level of nanochannel ordering in self-assembled nanoporous membranes is proposed and tested.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Date: 07-2011
Abstract: In the fields of organic electronics and biotechnology, applications for organic polymer thin films fabricated using low-temperature non-equilibrium plasma techniques are gaining significant attention because of the physical and chemical stability of thin films and the low cost of production. Polymer thin films were fabricated from non-synthetic terpinen-4-ol using radiofrequency polymerization (13.56 MHz) on low loss dielectric substrates and their permittivity properties were ascertained to determine potential applications for these organic films. Real and imaginary parts of permittivity as a function of frequency were measured using the variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer. The real part of permittivity (k) was found to be between 2.34 and 2.65 in the wavelength region of 400–1100 nm, indicating a potential low-k material. These permittivity values were confirmed at microwave frequencies. Dielectric properties of polyterpenol films were measured by means of split post dielectric resonators (SPDRs) operating at frequencies of 10 GHz and 20 GHz. Permittivity increased for s les deposited at higher RF energy – from 2.65 (25 W) to 2.83 (75 W) measured by a 20-GHz SPDR and from 2.32 (25 W) to 2.53 (100 W) obtained using a 10-GHz SPDR. The error in permittivity measurement was predominantly attributed to the uncertainty in film thickness measurement.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Date: 02-2018
Publisher: AIP Publishing
Date: 10-2018
DOI: 10.1063/1.5052133
Abstract: Plasma plumes have found a wide range of applications over the recent decade, stimulating studies of characteristics of plasma plumes generated under different conditions. Regardless of whether they propagate within a dielectric tube or different shielding gases, the behavior of these plumes will be affected by the boundary condition of the plume. Yet, at present, little is known about the behavior of plasma plumes of different polarities, especially negative plasma plumes, when propagating under different boundary conditions. To bridge this gap, in this paper, the characteristics of positive and negative plasma plumes propagating within a quartz tube, ambient Ar, and air are studied. The results reveal that the behavior of the positive plasma plume is similar under three different boundary conditions. However, this is not the case for the negative plasma plume, the behavior of which differs significantly between the three cases. Numerical simulation suggests that electron loss due to the drift in the radial direction impacts significantly the characteristics of the negative plasma plume.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2011
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 24-02-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2012
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1039/D2MH01178F
Abstract: Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a sustainable approach to producing fuels and value-added chemicals from anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ).
Publisher: AIP Publishing
Date: 20-10-2015
DOI: 10.1063/1.4933366
Abstract: Gas discharge plasmas formed at atmospheric pressure and near room temperature have recently been shown as a promising tool for cancer treatment. The mechanism of the plasma action is attributed to generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, electric fields, charges, and photons. The relative importance of different modes of action of atmospheric-pressure plasmas depends on the process parameters and specific treatment objects. Hence, an in-depth understanding of biological mechanisms that underpin plasma-induced death in cancer cells is required to optimise plasma processing conditions. Here, the intracellular factors involved in the observed anti-cancer activity in melanoma Mel007 cells are studied, focusing on the effect of the plasma treatment dose on the expression of tumour suppressor protein TP73. Over-expression of TP73 causes cell growth arrest and/or apoptosis, and hence can potentially be targeted to enhance killing efficacy and selectivity of the plasma treatment. It is shown that the plasma treatment induces dose-dependent up-regulation of TP73 gene expression, resulting in significantly elevated levels of TP73 RNA and protein in plasma-treated melanoma cells. Silencing of TP73 expression by means of RNA interference inhibited the anticancer effects of the plasma, similar to the effect of caspase inhibitor z-VAD or ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine. These results confirm the role of TP73 protein in dose-dependent regulation of anticancer activity of atmospheric-pressure plasmas.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-08-2011
Abstract: Whereas the employment of nanotechnology in electronics and optics engineering is relatively well established, the use of nanostructured materials in medicine and biology is undoubtedly novel. Certain nanoscale surface phenomena are being exploited to promote or prevent the attachment of living cells. However, as yet, it has not been possible to develop methods that completely prevent cells from attaching to solid surfaces, since the mechanisms by which living cells interact with the nanoscale surface characteristics of these substrates are still poorly understood. Recently, novel and advanced surface characterisation techniques have been developed that allow the precise molecular and atomic scale characterisation of both living cells and the solid surfaces to which they attach. Given this additional capability, it may now be possible to define boundaries, or minimum dimensions, at which a surface feature can exert influence over an attaching living organism.This review explores the current research on the interaction of living cells with both native and nanostructured surfaces, and the role that these surface properties play in the different stages of cell attachment.
No related grants have been discovered for Kateryna Bazaka.