A Nitric Oxide Producing Pin-to-Hole Spark Discharge Plasma Enhances Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Migration

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in vascular functions and wound healing. A pin-to-hole spark discharge (PHD), which primarily produces NO, recently emerged as an effective tool for medical applications. We therefore investigated whether PHD plasma-produced NO could promote angiogenesis. PHD plasma equipped with a curved tube extension was used to treat a saline solution and porcine aortic endothelial cells in vitro. Both NO and nitrite increased linearly in plasma-treated phosphate buffered saline, and NO also increased in a dose-dependent manner in endothelial cells. PHD plasma treatment induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Cells treated for 60 seconds had 8% more cells than untreated samples 5 days after plasma treatment. A 60-second PHD plasma treatment also increased 2D migration distance by 32% compared to an untreated control, whereas the number of cells that migrated through a 3D collagen gel increased by 16%. However, no tube formation was induced by PHD plasma. These data show that PHD plasma could apply NO to accelerate wound healing through enhanced angiogenesis.

The assessment of cold atmospheric plasma treatment of DNA in synthetic models of tissue fluid, tissue and cells

“…chronic wounds and cancers. It has been shown through in vitro cell studies and in vivo animal experiments that cold atmospheric plasma, herein referred to as plasma, might accelerate wound healing by stimulation of cell growth and migration [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], and also decontaminate infected wounds through targeted destruction of bacterial cells [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Similar results have been obtained in clinical studies where the efficacy of plasma in wound decontamination and healing has been demonstrated [23][24][25][26].…”

Cold Physical Plasmas in the Field of Hygiene—Relevance, Significance, and Future Applications

“…The field of plasma medicine possesses a high innovation potential and the treatment of chronic wounds with plasma is particularly promising as numerous studies have suggested in vitro and in vivo . In addition to the plasma's antiseptic activity, some cells are eliminated by plasma‐induced apoptosis, and the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and keratinocytes as well as angiogenesis is promoted . Mild inflammatory stimuli in, for example, immune cells and skin cells, may help the chronic wound to transit from stagnation into the phase of acute inflammation, to subsequently mediate wound healing.…”

Plasma-Derived Reactive Species Shape a Differentiation Profile in Human Monocytes

“…Cold physical plasma, from hereon named plasma, is a partially ionized gas at body temperature [26]. This multi-component system is releasing a variety of ROS/RNS, such as, nitric oxide, superoxide, and singlet oxygen [27][28][29]. At present, three medical plasmas have received accreditation as medical devices [30].…”