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Open research questions in Plasma Applications and Diagnostics

149 gap statements mined from Plasma Applications and Diagnostics papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,195 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The limited functionality and digestibility of plant-based proteins. The need for sustainable and eco-friendly processing techniques to improve the techno-functional properties of plant-based proteins. The lack of comprehensive reviews comparing the effects of non-thermal processing techniques on plant-based proteins.

    Non-thermal processing of plant-based proteins: comparison of cold plasma treatment with high hydrostatic pressure, ultraviolet radiation, and ultrasonication treatments · 2026 · DOI

  • The effects of nonthermal plasma seed treatment on germination and stress resilience are not well understood. The surface modification and biochemical reactions induced by plasma treatment require further exploration. The potential of plasma seed treatment for improving crop productivity and stress tolerance needs to be investigated.

    Omics-guided understanding of nonthermal plasma seed treatment: from surface modification to germination and stress resilience · 2026 · DOI

  • The stability of reactive species in plasma-activated liquid is a critical challenge for its widespread application. The activity of plasma-activated liquid is generally maintained for a limited time, depending on the liquid's composition and storage conditions. Microbial proliferation occurs readily when water activity is high, making it challenging to control microbial growth.

    Advances in Atmospheric Cold Plasma Technology for Plant-Based Food Safety, Functionality, and Quality Implications · 2025 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to explore the effects of HVDP on different types of crops and agricultural products. The development of more efficient and cost-effective HVDP systems for large-scale agricultural applications. Investigation of the potential applications of HVDP in food processing and preservation.

    Effects of High-Voltage Discharge Plasma on Drying Properties, Microstructure, and Nutrients of Oat Grass · 2025 · DOI

  • The application of PAW for bacterial inactivation in aqueous environments is not well understood. The effect of PAW on microbiological contaminants in aqueous suspensions is not well studied. The minimal addition of PAW volumes to bacterial aqueous suspensions still resulting in high inactivation rates is not well understood.

    Plasma-Activated Tap Water with Oxidative Potential Has an Inactivating Effect on Microbiological Contaminants in Aqueous Suspensions · 2024 · DOI

  • This study focuses on nanosecond-pulse non-thermal plasma, an emerging green technology with limited research, to investigate how liquid volume, PAW production time, and bacterial treatment time influence RNS and ROS levels.

    The impact of nanosecond-pulsed non-thermal plasma-activated water on Escherichia coliK12 disinfection under various conditions · 2026 · DOI

  • Although cold atmospheric plasma has demonstrated therapeutic potential, its molecular effects on intact epidermal regulatory networks under non-overtly damaging conditions remain incompletely understood.

    Non-overtly damaging cold atmospheric plasma induces adaptive epidermal molecular responses associated with integrin alpha 6 · 2026 · DOI

  • While its applications showed promising outcomes, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

    Skin treatment with non-thermal plasma modulates the immune system through miR-223-3p and its target genes · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need for novel, non-pharmaceutical interventions for the treatment of respiratory infections. Current interventions have limitations, and there is a need for more effective and safe treatments.

    Ventilator-integrated humidified cold atmospheric plasma enables safe eradication of lung cancer cells and supports respiratory therapeutic applications · 2026 · DOI

  • The Amplex Red hydrogen peroxide assay and Griess nitrite assay both require consistent reaction timing due to continuous enzymatic/chemical activity, but optimization of reaction kinetics, determination of optimal incubation parameters for different sample concentrations, and validation of linearity across the full physiological range of reactive species in decellularized tissue contexts were not fully explored.

    Ventilator-integrated humidified cold atmospheric plasma enables safe eradication of lung cancer cells and supports respiratory therapeutic applications · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to compare the effects of different plasma systems on the physicochemical characteristics of saline solution. The study aims to address this gap by comparing the effects of two atmospheric-pressure plasma systems.

    Comparative Physical and Physicochemical Characterization of Normal Saline Activated by two Atmospheric-pressure Plasma Systems · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study is needed to understand the effects of gas flow on non-thermal arc characteristics. The development of novel techniques to measure plasma parameters in non-thermal arc plasmas is necessary. The application of non-thermal arc plasmas in various fields, such as materials processing and environmental remediation, should be explored.

    Diagnostic Study of Plasma Parameters with Spatial Distribution for the Non-thermal arc at Atmospheric Pressure · 2026 · DOI

  • Traditional water treatment methods are often ineffective against bacterial contamination. There is a need for more advanced and effective water treatment technologies.

    WATER PURIFICATION BY THE COLD PLASMA METHOD: AN EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF BACTERICIDAL ACTION · 2026 · DOI

  • One challenge is the efficient removal of volatile organic compounds and microorganisms from indoor air. Another challenge is the need to improve CO2 selectivity and reduce residual ozone concentration. The study also identifies the challenge of scaling up the DBD–photocatalysis hybrid system for industrial-scale applications.

    Unlocking the Synergy of Coupled Cold Plasma and Luminous Textile Photocatalysis for Indoor Air Purification: Simultaneous Elimination of Ethyl Acetate and Microorganisms · 2026 · DOI

  • The study aims to address this gap by investigating the control of electrical properties and discharge structure of GAD plasmas.

    From Arc to Filamentary Plasma: Airflow-Controlled Regime Transition in Atmospheric Pressure DC Gliding Arc Discharge · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigate the effects of PAW treatment on a wider range of vegetable species. Examine the long-term effects of PAW treatment on plant growth and yield. Study the potential interactions between PAW treatment and other environmental factors, such as light and temperature. Develop optimized PAW treatment protocols for different species and environmental conditions.

    Non-Thermal Plasma-Activated Water Enhances Nursery Production of Vegetables: A Species-Specific Study · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigate the underlying metabolic responses in the fruit that NTP may trigger or inhibit, - Examine the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, - Study antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and relevant peroxidases), - Analyze key metabolites such as reduced and oxidized…

    Cold Atmospheric Plasma: Pre- and Post-Packaging Application for Fresh-Cut Apple Preservation · 2026 · DOI

  • Achieving process specificity, standardization, and scale-up in cold plasma technology for food enzyme modulation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cold plasma-enzyme interactions. Developing novel approaches for enzyme modification using cold plasma technology.

    Cold plasma technology for food enzyme modulation: mechanisms, functional implications, and industrial relevance · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should strengthen the connection between plasma measurements and rice-matrix responses, - Research should focus on improving process reproducibility, scale-up uniformity, and safety assessment in plasma-assisted brown rice…

    Cold plasma treatment of brown rice: a review of microbial safety quality and underlying mechanisms · 2026 · DOI

  • Further testing of PAW production and application, - Investigation of unintended effects on soil nitrogen cycling, - Development of more efficient PAW production methods, - Evaluation of PAW in different agricultural…

    Plasma-Activated Water as a Potential Low-Carbon Complement to Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers: A Comparative Review · 2026 · DOI

  • The available data on CAP treatment are still scarce, - There is no standardization of devices, application parameters, or therapeutic targets, - The lack of direct evidence available for the physical action…

    Cold Atmospheric Plasma in Oncology: A Review and Perspectives on Its Application in Veterinary Oncology · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of optimized cold-plasma parameters for diverse fruit and vegetable varieties - The need to scale up cold-plasma technology to facilitate industrial…

    The Effects of Cold-Plasma Technology on the Quality Properties of Fresh-Cut Produce: A Review · 2025 · DOI

  • Most studies to date remain at the laboratory scale, - Further work is needed to validate the performance under real wastewater conditions, - Key challenges must be overcome before widespread implementation is possible, - Improving the energy efficiency, scaling up reactor designs while maintaining treatment…

    Killing Two Crises with One Spark: Cold Plasma for Antimicrobial Resistance Mitigation and Wastewater Reuse · 2025 · DOI

  • A research agenda for integrating CP into future water reuse frameworks targeting AMR mitigation and sustainable water management, - Further work is needed to validate the performance under real wastewater conditions, - Improving the energy efficiency, scaling up reactor designs while maintaining treatment…

    Killing Two Crises with One Spark: Cold Plasma for Antimicrobial Resistance Mitigation and Wastewater Reuse · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the effects of PAW on other types of microorganisms, - Analyzing the long-term effects of PAW on microorganisms, - Studying the application of PAW in real-world scenarios, - Examining the potential of PAW for use in combination with other disinfection…

    Plasma-Activated Tap Water with Oxidative Potential Has an Inactivating Effect on Microbiological Contaminants in Aqueous Suspensions · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Plasma Applications and Diagnostics

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The lack of comprehensive reviews comparing the effects of non-thermal processing techniques on plant-based proteins (“Non-thermal processing of plant-based proteins: comparison of cold plasma…”, 2026); (2) The effects of nonthermal plasma seed treatment on germination and stress resilience are not well understood (“Omics-guided understanding of nonthermal plasma seed treatment: from surface…”, 2026); (3) Although cold atmospheric plasma has demonstrated therapeutic potential, its molecular effects on intact epidermal regulatory networks under non-overtly damaging conditions remain incompletely understood (“Non-overtly damaging cold atmospheric plasma induces adaptive epidermal…”, 2026); (4) There is a need for novel, non-pharmaceutical interventions for the treatment of respiratory infections (“Ventilator-integrated humidified cold atmospheric plasma enables safe…”, 2026); (5) There is a need to compare the effects of different plasma systems on the physicochemical characteristics of saline solution (“Comparative Physical and Physicochemical Characterization of Normal Saline…”, 2026). 149 gap statements have been mined from Plasma Applications and Diagnostics papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,195 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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