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Se describen las actividades de investigación en el área de catálisis que se realizan en el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ) y se refieren las atribuciones que por mandato legal tiene el Instituto. Se incluyen las líneas de investigación, contribuciones y los principales logros en este campo obtenidos a través de los años. También se presenta información sobre la infraestructura con que cuenta el Instituto para llevar a cabo investigación sobre catálisis. Se menciona la importancia del trabajo de colaboración nacional e internacional, así como la formación de recursos humanos. Por último, se presentan las perspectivas de investigación y desarrollo en nuestra institución en el campo de la catálisis.

Non-thermal plasmas (NTPs), known as cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs), hold great potential for diverse medical applications, including dentistry. However, traditional linear and rigid dielectric barrier discharge reactors used for NTP generation encounter limitations in accessing oral cavities and root canals. To address this issue, we have developed an innovative NTP reactor featuring an angled end for improved accessibility. The central copper electrode, with a 0.59 mm diameter and adjustable length for desired angulation, is coated with zircon powder (ZrSiO4) to ensure stable NTP generation. This central electrode is housed within a stainless steel tube (3 mm internal diameter, 8 mm external diameter, and 100 mm length) with a 27° angle at one end, making it ergonomically suitable for oral applications. NTP generation involves polarizing the reactor electrodes with 13.56 MHz radio frequency signals, using helium gas as a working medium. We introduce plasma-treated water (PTW) as an adjunctive therapy to enhance biofilm eradication within root canals. A synergistic approach combining NTP and PTW is employed and compared to the gold standard (sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl), effectively neutralizing Enterococcus faecalis bacteria, even in scenarios involving biofilms. Moreover, applying NTP in both gaseous and liquid environments successfully achieves bacterial inactivation at varying treatment durations, demonstrating the device’s suitability for medical use in treating root canal biofilms. The proposed NTP reactor, characterized by its innovative design, offers a practical and specific approach to plasma treatment in dental applications. It holds promise in combatting bacterial infections in root canals and oral cavities.

Background: Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with an increased risk of surgical wound infection. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) has multiple properties that help the healing process and deactivate pathogenic microorganisms. An HIV-positive patient was diagnosed with a neck tumour underwent excision of the neoplasm, and NTP therapy was applied as a coadjutant of wound closure. Methods: After the tumour's excision, the NTP therapy was applied to the surgical bed wound for 5 min. Subsequently, also spread the same therapy for 5 min more to the subcutaneous cellular tissue. Finally, a similar procedure was applied to the skin during 4 min. Results: With NTP's applications, wound closure was achieved without skin sutures in a short time, downgrading pain considerably, without the wound having any undesirable effect. Conclusions: Therapy using NTP can be an effective coadjutant procedure for wound closure and prevention of postoperative infection since it has been demonstrated to be effective and safe.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common disease in the oral cavity characterized by recurrent ulcers (RU). Usually, these cause acute pain without definitive treatment. The present study determines the efficacy of non-thermal plasma (NTP) for treating RU. NTP is applied to the patient’s RU using a radiofrequency generator connected to a point reactor. The power density applied to the ulcer is 0.50 W/cm2, less than 4 W/cm2, which is the maximum value without biological risk. Each patient received two treatments of three minutes each and spaced 60 min apart at a distance of 5 mm from the RU. From a sample of 30 ulcers in patients treated for RU with an average age of 37 years, they stated that the pain decreased considerably and without the need for ingestion of analgesics and antibiotics. Regeneration took place in an average of three days. The NTP proved to be an excellent therapeutic alternative for the treatment of RU since it has a rapid effect of reducing pain and inflammation, as well as adequate tissue regeneration.

Anal fistula, characterized by abnormal tracts between the perianal skin and the anal canal, presents challenges in treatment because of its diversity and complexity. This study investigates the use of non-thermal plasma as a postsurgical therapy for anal fistula, aiming to promote healing and tissue regeneration. A specialized plasma reactor was designed to apply non-thermal plasma within the anorectal cavity practically. Non-thermal plasma treatment was administered to 20 patients including 10 undergoing fistulectomies and 10 undergoing fistulotomies. The average duration of non-thermal plasma application in the operating room was shorter for fistulotomies. The pain reported the day after surgery was similar in both groups. Improvements in the number of evacuations starting from the day after surgery, as well as the assessment of stool quality using the Bristol scale, indicated satisfactory intestinal recovery. Fistulotomy patients exhibited faster wound healing times. These findings underscore the efficacy of non-thermal plasma as a postoperative therapy for anal fistula, enhancing healing and recovery outcomes without increasing complication risks.