Atmospheric pressure coaxial gaseous discharge tubes (DTs) with helium have demonstrated potential for in vitro inactivation or sensitization of glioblastoma cancer cells. Here, we study the effect of two configurations of the DT electrode system on its electromagnetic emissivity as well as other physical factors (heating and UV emission) that form in the vicinity of this device. We demonstrate that the configuration of the DT electrodes that concentrates the discharge streamers near the top of the device has a distant (cm scale) deactivation effect on U87-MG glioblastoma cancer cells when irradiated, without measurable UV components in the DT optical emission spectra. This effect persists even through different barriers such as glass, plastic, or quartz Petri dishes but is eliminated when glass or plastic dishes are filled with water. These findings demonstrate the potential for development of noninvasive, physical-based treatment methods of deep-tissue tumors.
Keywords: cancer; cold atmospheric plasma; electromagnetic effect on cells; glioblastoma; noninvasive cancer treatment; plasma medicine.