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News - Henniker Plasma

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.
 

Materials Library - PETG

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified) is a transparent, durable thermoplastic widely used in packaging, medical devices, and display applications. The addition of glycol during polymerisation improves its processability compared to standard PET, reducing brittleness while maintaining strength and clarity.

Like many thermoplastics, PETG has inherently low surface energy. This low surface energy prevents good wetting which results in poor adhesion characteristics. Plasma treatment effectively overcomes the limitation by cleaning and activating the PETG surface, significantly increasing wettability and enabling strong, durable bonds without altering the bulk material properties.

Materials Library - Polyamide

The majority of thermoplastics have inherently low surface energy and therefore exhibit poor adhesion characteristics. Plasma treatment offers a reliable and environmentally friendly method of both cleaning and activating the thermoplastic surface, increasing the surface energy and wettability and resulting in greatly improved adhesion characteristics.

Addressing the PFAS Challenge


Addressing the PFAS Challenge with Plasma Surface Modification

PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are widely known for their exceptional water- and grease-resistant properties. However, their environmental persistence and potential health risks have sparked a significant movement towards finding safer alternatives. PFAS-free polymers have emerged as a promising solution, but achieving the desired surface properties without these chemicals has been a challenge.