# Microplasma-Mediated Enhancement of FD-150 Uptake in HL-60 Cells

## TL;DR

This study shows that microplasma treatment can temporarily increase drug uptake in HL-60 cells by altering cell membrane properties.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the investigation of microplasma's effect on FD-150 uptake and membrane dynamics in HL-60 cells.

## Key findings

- FD-150 uptake increased with microplasma treatment time up to seven minutes, then declined at ten minutes.
- Microplasma caused transient hyperpolarization followed by depolarization, correlating with FD-150 absorption.
- Lipid disorder increased with treatment, enhancing membrane permeability but reducing cell viability at high disruption.

## Abstract

Lipids are the primary components of cell membranes, and their properties can be temporarily modified by microplasma-generated species to enhance drug uptake. The ability of microplasmas to influence membrane dynamics has made them effective tools for facilitating drug uptake into cells. Despite this, the effect of microplasma irradiation on cell membranes is yet to be investigated. We investigated the effects of microplasma irradiation on fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 150 (FD-150) uptake in Human Promyelocytic Leukemia (HL-60) cells, with the focus on transmembrane potential and lipid order changes. Plasma was applied to HL-60 cells for five, seven, and ten minutes. Fluorescence intensity measurements showed that an uptake of FD-150 increased with treatment time, before declining at ten minutes of treatment. Following treatment, transmembrane potential analysis indicated transient hyperpolarization followed by gradual depolarization until 60 min, corresponding to increased FD-150 absorption. Analysis of the lipid order showed a more disordered membrane state, with the most pronounced changes observed at ten minutes. The increase in lipid disorder increases membrane permeability while excessive disruption of the lipid order impairs cell viability. These findings demonstrate the potential of plasma-generated reactive species in modulating membrane characteristics for intracellular drug delivery.