Objective The interaction of specific biomolecules like endotoxins or certain proteins with organisms can be a major cause of diseases. Prominent examples are pyrogenes - lipopolysacharides (LPS) and lipoteichoic acids (LTA) -, which cause fever in human body and ar e potentially lethal after injection. In some cases the secondary or tertiary structure of proteins is responsible for their biological properties. Important example is PrP (prion). Some contaminated object such as a surface (e.g. medical devices, accessor ies, work surface or tissue) cannot be decontaminated with current sterilisation practices at all or only with inducing major damage to the substrate or tissue itself. An applicable innovative technology for the inactivation of pathogenic biomolecules is, therefore, urgently desired. It is proposed to exploit the feasibility of plasma discharges as decontamination device for pathogenic biomolecules. Emerging species from the plasma discharge interact individually as well as simultaneously with the biomolecu les. It is expected that this reactive particle flux is able to induce alteration and inactivation of biomolecules. This is addressed in a combined approach using low and high pressure plasma discharges. Different characteristic biomolecules are exposed to the plasmas and the changes induced are monitored. In a second step, the inactivation of resistant bacterial endospores is explored. The potential applications are in the field of surface decontamination of medical objects and surfaces as well as control of a biological environment. The results of the research will have also an important impact in the field of security and protection of citizens in front of bioterrorism. For instance, atmospheric plasma sources will be developed and validated to serve as a decontamination device in the field. The processes will also be developed to be applicable on large areas for medical applications Fields of science social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical transitionsterrorismnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins Keywords physics plasma plasma physics Programme(s) FP6-POLICIES - Policy support: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NEST-2003-1 - Adventure activities Call for proposal FP6-2003-NEST-B-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator RUHR-UNIVERSITAET BOCHUM EU contribution No data Address Universitaetsstrasse 150 BOCHUM Germany See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ACXYS TECHNOLOGIES France EU contribution No data Address 148 rue des vingt toises SAINT MARTIN LE VINOUX See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE France EU contribution No data Address 31-33 Rue de la Féderation PARIS See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES - DIRECTORATE GENERAL JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Belgium EU contribution No data Address Rue de la Loi, 200 BRUSSELS See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V. Germany EU contribution No data Address Hansastrasse 27 C MUENCHEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data