An experimental burn wound-healing study of non-thermal atmospheric pressure microplasma jet arrays

Abstract

In contrast with a thermal plasma surgical instrument based on coagulative and ablative properties, low-temperature (non-thermal) non-equilibrium plasmas are known for novel medicinal effects on exposed tissue while minimizing undesirable tissue damage. In this study we demonstrated that arrays of non-thermal microplasma jet devices fabricated from a transparent polymer can efficiently inactivate fungi (Candida albicans) as well as bacteria (Escherichia coli), both in vitro and in vivo, and that this leads to a significant wound-healing effect. Microplasma jet arrays offer several advantages over conventional single-jet devices, including superior packing density, inherent scalability for larger treatment areas, unprecedented material flexibility in a plasma jet device, and the selective generation of medically relevant reactive species at higher plasma densities. The therapeutic effects of our multi-jet device were verified on second-degree burns in animal rat models. Reduction of the wound area and the histology of the wound after treatment have been investigated, and expression of interleukin (IL)-1α, -6 and -10 was verified to evaluate the healing effects. The consistent effectiveness of non-thermal plasma treatment has been observed especially in decreasing wound size and promoting re-epithelialization through collagen arrangement and the regulation of expression of inflammatory genes.

Plasma Medicine: A Field of Applied Redox Biology

“…These clinical experiences confirm a very early hypothesis in plasma medicine research, that plasma effects on wound healing may be a result of a two-step activity: antiseptics on wound surface in combination with stimulation of tissue regeneration (67) in several in vivo animal experiments (69,(74)(75)(76)(77)(78)(79)(80)(81)(82)(83)(84)(85)(86)(87)(88)(89)(90) and in human volunteers or patients with reasonably defined wounds (91)(92)(93). It has to be pointed out that these lastmentioned wound healing effects in vivo were demonstrated in acute wounds without any interfering microbial contamination.…”

N2 non‐thermal atmospheric pressure plasma promotes wound healing in vitro and in vivo: Potential modulation of adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinase‐9

“…Maintaining skin integrity is critical for protecting against water loss, bleeding, infection and regulating body temperature, as well as a role in beauty and psychological effects on people . In addition, chronic wounds represent a significant biomedical burden in an ageing world population, coupled with an increased prevalence of conditions such as diabetes …”

Cold Atmospheric Plasma: A Powerful Tool for Modern Medicine

“…At the molecular level, NO formation was accelerated and the expression of the PDGFRβ and CD31 pro-angiogenic markers increased. There was also increased TGFβ1 activity and VEGFA/VEGFR2 signalling stimulation [59][60][61]. The positive CAP effect was also proven in rat model healing of chemical burns following rat-skin exposure to sulphuric acid.…”