The effect of electrical discharges in the cell media on their viability and DNA damage and comparison with the effect of X-rays

This study measures the viability of human breast cancer cells and the effect on DNA exposed to electrically generated plasmas produced directly in the growth media, and these findings are compared with the results of x-ray exposure. The effect of increasing plasma exposure is found to follow the same pattern as that from 160-keVp x-ray exposure to both DNA damage and cell viability. These results add support to the idea that plasma and x‑ray-induced chemistry in liquids are similar, and may help to define and quantify the concept of dose in plasma applications in medicine.