Cold Spark Discharge Plasma Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in an Animal Model of Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Cold plasma discharges have been shown to have medically-relevant therapeutic effects when applied to living tissues, including blood coagulation and wound healing; thus, plasma treatment of infl amed tissues in ulcerative colitis disease may be an effective approach to reduce adverse consequences if not cure the disease. Here we discuss results of the fi rst experimental study of cold plasma treatment of ulcerative colitis in a mouse model. As a plasma source, a cold spark discharge has been used. The results show that plasma treatment of experimental model of ulcerative colitis in mice has some benefi cial effects by suppressing the progression of the disease while no damage to colon tissues is observed; and these effects are comparable to standard therapy.

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

“…The spark discharge had the following characteristics: voltage 4 kV, pulse duration ~ 20 µs, frequency 1-7 Hz, energy per pulse ~1.8 J, plasma diameter 3-5 mm, gas temperature 300-330 K, air flow rate 1 liter/minute. 37,45 In previous studies, we used gas chromatography to measure rapidly rising NO levels in plasmatreated air, which reached a stable level of 1980 ± 50 ppm NO by 50 seconds of plasma discharge. 37 We also measured reactive oxygen species (ROS), specifically hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the discharge.…”

Review of Major Directions in Non-Equilibrium Atmospheric Plasma Treatments in Medical, Biological, and Bioengineering Applications

“…362 The results reported for the pin-to-hole spark discharge treatment in an in vivo animal trial with mice where gastrointestinal inflammation, similar to ulcerative colitis, was induced by feeding the animals with dextran sulfate-spiked water are promising. 363 The reports show significant decrease in the disease activity index.…”

MRI‐Guided Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma In Vivo: A Preliminary Study for Rectal Wall of Rabbit

“…Dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) as a widely used method to generate atmospheric cold plasma, since they consist of electrodes covered by a dielectric material, which prevents the transition to an arc and limited local overheating, have led to their broad use in the treatment of various cancer, and especially for colon cancer . Even animal study was conducted in vivo by using plasma to treat colon tissues in recent report . However, it was developed under the method of invasive surgery.…”