Air plasma coupled with antibody-conjugated nanoparticles: a new weapon against cancer

Ambient air plasmas have been known to kill cancer cells. To enhance selectivity we have used antibody-conjugated nanoparticles. We achieved five times enhancement of melanoma cell death over the case of the plasma alone by using an air plasma with gold nanoparticles bound to anti-FAK antibodies. Our results show that this new interdisciplinary technique has enormous potential for use as a complement to conventional therapies.