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News - Henniker Plasma

Gold nanoparticles for biomedical research

Plasma Surface Preparation for Gold Nanoparticle Research

Enabling New Insights into Nanoscale Surface Chemistry

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are essential components in modern healthcare diagnostics, plasmonic sensing, catalysis, and nanomaterial design. Their performance depends critically on surface chemistry — how ligands, ions, and trace species interact at the nanoscale interface. Even subtle changes in the interfacial environment can reshape morphology, alter molecular binding, and ultimately determine material functionality. Understanding these dynamic surface processes is therefore fundamental to designing better sensors, catalysts, and nanomaterials.

Oxygen plasma cleaning process inside a Henniker Plasma HPT-100 chamber showing purple plasma glow during surface treatment

Frictiotaxis: A New Mechanism for Cell Migration in Confined Environments

Cells migrate in response to environmental gradients as part of development, immune response, wound healing, and disease progression. For decades, the prevailing understanding has been that cell migration towards stiffer substrates (a process called durotaxis) depends critically on focal adhesions. These molecular anchors sense substrate stiffness and transmit forces that guide directed cell motion. However, recent research reveals a fundamentally different migration mechanism that operates without focal adhesions entirely.

Scientist loading plasma treatment chamber for medical device surface activation in clean lab environment

Enabling Medical Device Innovation Through Precision Surface Treatment

Medical device manufacturing centre logo

The Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC), based in Scotland, acts as a strategic partner for SMEs, university spinouts, and researchers seeking to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and commercial success.

Since its launch in 2020, MDMC has worked with over 170 companies and entrepreneurs, guiding them through prototyping, small-batch production, and the full regulatory landscape (UKCA and CE marking) that governs the path to market for medical devices.

Retinal organoid attached to a plasma-treated glass surface showing neurite outgrowth and cell migration

Plasma Surface Treatment for Retinal Organoids: Improving Attachment and Cell Development

Retinal organoids are tiny 3D models of retinal tissue used in medical and life-science research and are changing how scientists explore eye disease, develop therapies, and evaluate new drugs. However, one persistent challenge has been their unreliable interaction with biomaterial surfaces. Poor attachment or inconsistent cell development limits experimental accuracy and slows progress in regenerative medicine.

Nova advanced benchtop plasma system

Nova advanced benchtop plasma system

November 2025 – Henniker, UK.

Henniker Plasma, the UK’s leading manufacturer of plasma treatment systems, has announced the launch of Nova, a new advanced benchtop plasma system that brings industrial-grade process control to the research and development environment.

Side-by-side images showing water droplet tests on untreated and plasma-treated textile samples, demonstrating changes in surface wettability.

Plasma-Assisted Dip-Coating for Antibacterial Textiles

The article “Development of Antibacterial Cotton-Black Viscose and Cotton-Polyester Blended-Knit Fabric Using Ag Doped ZnO Nanocomposite”, published in Advanced Materials Interfaces by the research group of Professor Tanu Arefin, explores how plasma treatment enhances the development of antibacterial knit fabrics using silver-doped zinc oxide nanocomposites. The research focuses on cotton–polyester and cotton–black viscose blends, aiming to improve hygiene, comfort and durability without compromising the natural softness of the textiles.

Henniker HPT-100 plasma cleaner running oxygen plasma treatment with live process parameters displayed on screen

HPT-100 Plasma Cleaner Boosts SiC Brazing Performance

Oxygen Plasma Activation with HPT-100 for Stronger Silicon Carbide Joints

A recent study by researchers at The University of Virginia, in collaboration with Ceramic Tubular Products LLC, has demonstrated thatoxygen plasma activation, performed using the Henniker HPT-100 plasma cleaner, can significantly improve the joining ofsilicon carbide (SiC) components. By modifying the SiC surface prior to pressure-less brazing with a silica–alumina–magnesia (SAMg) glass filler, researchers achieved stronger, fully hermetic joints - with over150% higher strength than untreated samples.

Diagram showing the principle of pumpless unidirectional perfusion using gravity-driven flow. Panel A displays fluid equilibrium with no flow. Panel B shows forward flow when tilted right, and Panel C illustrates reverse flow when tilted left. The system enables directional fluid perfusion without pumps by alternating tilt angles.

How Henniker's HPT-200 enabled Pumpless Perfusion for Organ-on-Chip

Pumpless Perfusion in Organ-on-Chip Devices Using Tesla Valves

In this interesting work, researchers from the University of Twenteutilise Henniker’sHPT-200 plasma system inthe development of a Tesla Valve-based pumpless flow system [1]. Pumpless perfusion is a method of moving fluids through a microfluidic or Organ-on-Chip system without using external pumps like syringe or peristaltic pumps.

Laboratory technician using Henniker Plasma HPT-100 system for surface prep, inserting a sample into the plasma chamber in a clean lab environment.

Low-Dose SED Reveals Crystal Defects Using HPT‑100 Plasma

Revealing Crystal Defects with Low-Dose SED and HPT‑100 Plasma Cleaning

Defects inside molecular crystals called dislocations can affect how materials perform in electronics, pharmaceuticals, or coatings. Until now, imaging these defects has been hard because the microscopes needed too much electron energy, which damages fragile organic crystals.

Front view of the Henniker Plasma HPT-200 plasma surface treatment system, featuring a purple-lit chamber and digital touchscreen interface for precision plasma processing and gene delivery.

QMUL Researchers Use Plasma Treatment for Gene Delivery Study

 

Delivering genetic material such as RNA or DNA into human cells is a central challenge in the development of next-generation medicines - from gene therapy to RNA-based vaccines. In the search for safer, more stable delivery platforms, researchers are increasingly turning to polymer brushes: nanoscale coatings made of densely packed, hair-like polymer chains tethered to a surface.

Plasma chamber images showing nitrogen gas flow rates from 1 to 50 sccm with corresponding purple plasma glow, alongside a graph correlating N₂ volume flow rate and chamber pressure for surface prep optimization.

Researchers in China produce Ultra stable Semiconductor using Henniker HPT-100

 

2D materials, are crystalline solids consisting of a single layer of atoms. These materials have unique properties due to their thickness being limited in one dimension, which makes them ideal for various applications including optoelectronics, energy generation, and high-performance composites. As an example, the most widely studied 2D material, graphene, has exceptional conductivity and is stronger than steel.

Surface Preparation for High-Resolution Influenza Genome Imaging Research

A recent preprint published on bioRxiv explores the structural organisation and selective packaging mechanisms of the influenza A virus genome using a high-throughput DNA-PAINT approach. Researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick analysed more than 10,000 individual virus particles, gaining insights into how influenza genome segments interact and assemble during viral replication.

Refining Surface Chemistry for Cardiovascular Implant Advancements

A recent study from Loughborough University demonstrates the impact of organosilane surface modifications on cardiovascular implants. The research focuses on modifying surfaces with various silane groups such as amine, methyl, and thiol to selectively enhance endothelial cell growth while suppressing smooth muscle cell proliferation. This dual effect helps address two critical issues in cardiovascular implants: improving endothelialization and preventing thrombosis.

Development of a Robust Memristor Using Monolayer Graphene and Sapphire Substrates with a Plasma-Enhanced Fabrication Process

 

Recent advancements in memristor technology highlight the potential of monolayer graphene electrodes in electronic devices. A recent study has successfully demonstrated the fabrication of a memristor featuring a monolayer graphene electrode directly deposited onto sapphire substrates using a commercially available metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) system. The incorporation of theHenniker HPT-100 plasma system in the fabrication process allows for batch production, accommodating up to 37 wafers simultaneously, showcasing a scalable approach to device manufacturing. 

Demonstration of up to 98% removal of specific residual antibiotics from water using the Cirrus atmospheric plasma system


The promising results of pharmaceutical removal from water using atmospheric plasma.

Recent studies are shedding light on the effectiveness of advanced plasma technology in addressing one of today's critical environmental challenges: removing pharmaceutical contaminants from water. Pharmaceuticals like diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, and carbamazepine have become prevalent in aquatic environments, with traditional water treatment methods struggling to remove them fully. The Henniker Cirrus atmospheric plasma system has been tested in this area, and the results are extremely promising according to this recent study.