Electron spectroscopic analysis of the human lipid skin barrier: cold atmospheric plasma‐induced changes in lipid composition

Abstract

The lipids of the stratum corneum comprise the most important components of the skin barrier. In patients with ichthyoses or atopic dermatitis, the composition of the skin barrier lipids is disturbed resulting in dry, scaly, itching erythematous skin. Using the latest X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) technology, we investigated the physiological skin lipid composition of human skin and the effects of cold atmospheric plasma treatment on the lipid composition. Skin lipids were stripped off forearms of six healthy volunteers using the cyanoacrylate glue technique, plasma treated or not and then subjected to detailed XPS analysis. We found that the human lipid skin barrier consisted of 84.4% carbon (+1.3 SEM%), 10.8% oxygen (+1.0 SEM%) and 4.8% nitrogen (+0.3 SEM%). The composition of physiological skin lipids was not different in males and females. Plasma treatment resulted in significant changes in skin barrier lipid stoichiometry. The total carbon amount was reduced to 76.7%, and the oxygen amount increased to 16.5%. There was also a slight increase in nitrogen to 6.8%. These changes could be attributed to reduced C-C bonds and increased C-O, C=O, C-N and N-C-O bonds. The moderate increase in nitrogen was caused by an increase in C-N and N-C-O bonds. Our results show for the first time that plasma treatment leads to considerable changes in the human skin lipid barrier. Our proof of principle investigations established the technical means to analyse, if plasma-induced skin lipid barrier changes may be beneficial in the treatment of ichthyotic or eczematous skin.

Unraveling the interactions between cold atmospheric plasma and skin-components with vibrational microspectroscopy

“…14 In addition, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed an increased oxygenation of lipids after plasma treatment was shown. 15 These results were supported by ReaxFF-based reactive molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations with O and OH a) Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; electronic mail: martina.havenith@rub.de radicals with lipids, recently. 16 Raman spectroscopic and mass spectrometry investigations of dried glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase treated with a microscale atmospheric-pressure plasma jet provide evidence for oxidation of the catalytic cysteines, leading to an inactivation of the protein.…”

Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations for a Better Insight in Plasma Medicine

“…We have also performed simulations for the interaction of ROS with lipids present in the upper part of the skin layer, or stratum corneum. The lipid matrix present in the stratum corneum is composed of fatty acids, ceramides and cholesterol . In first instance, we have performed simulations of the interaction of O and OH radicals with α‐linolenic acid, which is assumed to be representative for the fatty acids present in the stratum corneum, as it has a typical chain length and a typical number of double bonds.…”

“…The fields of application include disinfection of both living tissue and non‐living surfaces (medical tools, diagnostic devices, etc treatment of skin diseases, blood coagulation, killing or apoptosis of cancer cells, and even tissue regeneration …”

Enhancement of Percutaneous Absorption on Skin by Plasma Drug Delivery Method

“…Creation of these groups increases the hydrophilic character of the lipid layer. Incorporation of oxygen to stratum corneum lipids was also confirmed by increasing of C-O and C=O bonds after treatment of skin layer by atmospheric plasma [77]. Also, micropores (10 nm-1 μm in size) were observed in an artificial cell membrane system consisting of supported lipid bilayers after DBD plasma irradiation [78].…”