Leibniz-Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie e.V.

The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is one of the world's leading research institutes for low-temperature plasmas. Its research focuses on plasma medicine and plasma surface modification, developing new applications in the clinical field, life sciences and medical technology. Various plasma-based processes are used, for example, to improve medical devices, for new forms of therapy and for surface refinement.

• Research and development in bilateral and funded projects
• Contract research
• Development of plasma sources
• Characterization of (cold) plasma sources according to DIN Spec 91315
• Research and development of basic principles for the application of plasma technology for the treatment of chronic wounds, cancer treatment and respiratory tract infections
• Conducting clinical studies as part of (medical) product development at the Institute's branch in the Karlsburg Clinic
• Modification of surface properties, functionalization, coating and ablation (polishing, etching)
• Tailor-made plasma-modified surfaces on plastics, metals, glass and ceramic materials
• fluorine-free surfaces with hydrophobic or hydrophilic adhesion properties
• Process development for surface modification at low pressure and normal pressure
• Surface analysis

Plasma medicine:

• Plasma fluid chemistry in physiological fluids
• Mass spectrometry and oxidative modification analysis of small molecules, amino acids, peptides and proteins, including cells and tissues, and proteomics
• High-throughput and high-content quantitative fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and cell sorting
• Three-dimensional laboratory models, including tissue models, to mimic plasma effects and effectors
• Molecular biology (gene and protein analysis)
• OECD-based genotoxicity analyses
• Analysis of anti-microbial and cytotoxic or proliferative properties of physical plasmas

Plasma surface modification:

• Plasma fine cleaning and plasma electrolytic polishing
• Plasma spraying
• High power pulse magnetron sputtering & plasma-based ion implantation
• plasma polymerization
• gas-phase deposition of tailored nanoparticles 
• maskless patterning
• X-ray photoemission spectroscopy
• surfaces with specific cell adhesion: Fluorine-free hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces
• Antimicrobial surfaces
• Photocatalytic surfaces
• Biosensory surfaces 
• Microstructured surface modifications: Deposition & Etching