Kaltes Atmosphärendruckplasma zur Behandlung akuter und chronischer Wunden

The Regulatory Mechanism of Cold Plasma in Relation to Cell Activity and Its Application in Biomedical and Animal Husbandry Practices

As an innovative technology in biological applications, cold plasma is widely used in oral treatment, tissue regeneration, wound healing, and cancer therapy, etc., because of the adjustable composition and temperature which allow the plasma to react with bio-objects safely. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by cold plasma regulate cell activity in an intensity- and time-dependent manner. A low level of ROS produced by cold plasma treatment within the appropriate intensities and times promotes proliferation of skin-related cells and increases angiogenesis, which aid in the acceleration of the wound healing process, while a high level of ROS produced by cold plasma treatment performed at a high intensity or over a long period of time inhibits the proliferation of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and cancer cells. Moreover, cold plasma can regulate stem cell proliferation by changing niche interface and producing nitric oxide directly. However, the molecular mechanism of cold plasma regulating cell activity and its potential application in the field of animal husbandry remain unclear in the literature. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects and possible regulatory mechanisms of cold plasma on the activities of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, stem cells, and cancer cells to provide a theoretical basis for the application of cold plasma to skin-wound healing and cancer therapy. In addition, cold plasma exposure at a high intensity or an extended time shows excellent performances in killing various microorganisms existing in the environment or on the surface of animal food, and preparing inactivated vaccines, while cold plasma treatment within the appropriate conditions improves chicken growth and reproductive capacity. This paper introduces the potential applications of cold plasma treatment in relation to animal-breeding environments, animal health, their growth and reproduction, and animal food processing and preservation, which are all beneficial to the practice of animal husbandry and guarantee good animal food safety results.

[M.O.I.S.T. concept for the local therapy of chronic wounds]

The treatment of patients with chronic wounds is still an interdisciplinary and interprofessional challenge. The basis of successful therapy for these patients is based on causal treatment of the underlying, pathophysiologically relevant diseases. In addition, however, local wound therapy should always be provided to support wound healing and avoid complications. In order to better structure the multitude of wound products, the M.O.I.S.T. concept was developed by a multidisciplinary expert group of WundDACH, the umbrella organization of German-speaking professional societies. M describes, O oxygenation, I infection control, S support of the healing process and T tissue management.The M.O.I.S.T. concept is intended to provide healthcare professionals a guidance for systematic planning and also for education with regard to the local therapy of patients with chronic wounds. The 2022 update of this concept is now presented here for the first time.

Development of a Mobile Sensory Device to Trace Treatment Conditions for Various Medical Plasma Source Devices

The emerging use of low-temperature plasma in medicine, especially in wound treatment, calls for a better way of documenting the treatment parameters. This paper describes the development of a mobile sensory device (referred to as MSD) that can be used during the treatment to ease the documentation of important parameters in a streamlined process. These parameters include the patient's general information, plasma source device used in the treatment, plasma treatment time, ambient humidity and temperature. MSD was developed as a standalone Raspberry Pi-based version and attachable module version for laptops and tablets. Both versions feature a user-friendly GUI, temperature-humidity sensor, microphone, treatment report generation and export. For the logging of plasma treatment time, a sound-based plasma detection system was developed, initially for three medically certified plasma source devices: kINPen^® MED, plasma care^®, and PlasmaDerm^® Flex. Experimental validation of the developed detection system shows accurate and reliable detection is achievable at 5 cm measurement distance in quiet and noisy environments for all devices. All in all, the developed tool is a first step to a more automated, integrated, and streamlined approach of plasma treatment documentation that can help prevent user variability.

Medical gas plasma-stimulated wound healing: Evidence and mechanisms

Defective wound healing poses a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems. In recent years, a novel reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) based therapy has received considerable attention among dermatologists for targeting chronic wounds. The multifaceted ROS/RNS are generated using gas plasma technology, a partially ionized gas operated at body temperature. This review integrates preclinical and clinical evidence into a set of working hypotheses mainly based on redox processes aiding in elucidating the mechanisms of action and optimizing gas plasmas for therapeutic purposes. These hypotheses include increased wound tissue oxygenation and vascularization, amplified apoptosis of senescent cells, redox signaling, and augmented microbial inactivation. Instead of a dominant role of a single effector, it is proposed that all mechanisms act in concert in gas plasma-stimulated healing, rationalizing the use of this technology in therapy-resistant wounds. Finally, addressable current challenges and future concepts are outlined, which may further promote the clinical utilization, efficacy, and safety of gas plasma technology in wound care in the future.

[Wound therapy with cold atmospheric plasma in severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa : A pilot study]

BACKGROUND

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) has antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. Patients affected by severe autosomal recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) suffer from widespread, difficult-to-treat wounds, which require complex wound management.

OBJECTIVE

In a pilot project, we investigated over a period of 5 months the response and tolerability of a CAP wound therapy in a 21-year-old and a 28-year-old female patient with severe generalized RDEB and following cutaneous squamous cell cancer (cSSC) in the older patient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In both patients, diagnosis of RDEB was confirmed by molecular genetics. Individual- and patient-specific wound therapy was continued during the study period, and additionally CAP therapy with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBE) device was initiated. CAP treatment was performed for 90 s per wound and could be applied every day or every other day. Clinical evaluation included photographic documentation and regular interviews of patients and parents.

RESULTS

CAP-treated wounds largely demonstrated improved wound healing and signs of a reduced bacterial contamination. Furthermore, CAP proved to prevent wound chronification. When applied on a polyester mesh, it was well-tolerated on most body sites.

CONCLUSION

The introduction of CAP could improve the wound management of EB patients and should be evaluated in clinical studies. The effect of CAP on cSSC development should be particularly studied.

Combining Biocompatible and Biodegradable Scaffolds and Cold Atmospheric Plasma for Chronic Wound Regeneration

Skin regeneration is a quite complex process. Epidermal differentiation alone takes about 30 days and is highly regulated. Wounds, especially chronic wounds, affect 2% to 3% of the elderly population and comprise a heterogeneous group of diseases. The prevailing reasons to develop skin wounds include venous and/or arterial circulatory disorders, diabetes, or constant pressure to the skin (decubitus). The hallmarks of modern wound treatment include debridement of dead tissue, disinfection, wound dressings that keep the wound moist but still allow air exchange, and compression bandages. Despite all these efforts there is still a huge treatment resistance and wounds will not heal. This calls for new and more efficient treatment options in combination with novel biocompatible skin scaffolds. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) is such an innovative addition to the treatment armamentarium. In one CAP application, antimicrobial effects, wound acidification, enhanced microcirculations and cell stimulation can be achieved. It is evident that CAP treatment, in combination with novel bioengineered, biocompatible and biodegradable electrospun scaffolds, has the potential of fostering wound healing by promoting remodeling and epithelialization along such temporarily applied skin replacement scaffolds.

Cold atmospheric plasma improves cutaneous microcirculation in standardized acute wounds: Results of a controlled, prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Given the high prevalence of wounds and their challenging treatment, the research of therapies to improve wound healing is of great clinical interest. In addition, the general consequences of developing chronic wounds constitute a large health economic aspect, which underscores the interest in the development of efficient treatment strategies. Direct cold atmospheric plasma (di_CAP) has been shown to have beneficial effects on microcirculation of human tissue (Kisch et al., 2016a). It also affects microbial settlements, which may have supportive effects on wound healing processes (Balzer et al., 2015). To treat these adequately, in our view, the positive effects on wound healing should be objectified by application on standardized wounds. However, wound healing is a complex process, depending on nutrient and oxygen supply by cutaneous blood circulation. In spite of microcirculation has been shown to improve in healthy skin by CAP, a quantification of the effect in a standardized wound model has never been evaluated (Kisch et al., 2016a). Based on this, we hypothesize that CAP also influences the microcirculation in standardized acute wounds in a prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Microcirculatory data of 20 healthy subjects (14 males, 6 females; mean age 40.85 ± 15.84 years; BMI 26.83 ± 7.27 kg/m2) were recorded continuously at a standardized acute wound after skin transplantation (donor site) at the thigh. Under standardized conditions, microcirculatory measurements were performed using a combined laser Doppler and photospectrometry system. After baseline measurement, CAP was applied by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma device for 90 s to the acute wound area. Immediately after the application, cutaneous microcirculation was assessed for 30 min (min) at the same site.

RESULTS

After CAP application, tissue oxygen saturation immediately increased by 5% (92,66 ± 4,76% vs. Baseline 88,21 ± 6,52%, p < 0,01) in the first 60 s and remained significantly elevated for 4 min. Capillary blood flow increased by 19.3% within the first minute of CAP therapy (220.14 ± 65.91 AU vs. Baseline 184.52 ± 56.77 AU, p < 0.001). The statistically highly significant increase in blood flow continued over the entire measurement time. A maximum value was shown in the blood flow in the 15th minute (232.15 ± 58.90 AU, p < 0.001) according to CAP application. With regard to the output measurement, it represents a percentage increase of 25.8%. The measurement of post-capillary venous filling pressure at a tissue depth of 6-8 mm was 59.39 ± AU 12.94 at baseline measurement. After application, there were no significant changes.

CONCLUSION

CAP increases cutaneous tissue oxygen saturation and capillary blood flow at the standardized acute wound healing model. These results support recently published data on wound healing after CAP treatment. However, further studies are needed to determine if this treatment can improve the reduced microcirculation in chronic wounds. Moreover, repetitive application protocols have to be compared with a single session treatment approach.

Cold atmospheric plasma applications in dermatology: A systematic review

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) applications can potentially lead to effective therapy for numerous skin diseases. Our aim is to systematically review the available data and map the use of CAP in dermatology. PubMed, Embase and Web of science were explored before 2020 for studies regarding the use of CAP in dermatology. A total of 166 studies were finally included. 74.1% of these studies used indirect CAP sources. Most studies used plasma jet (67.5%). Argon was the mostly used working gas (48.2%). Plasma application itself could be direct (89.2%) and indirect (16.3%). The proportion of studies with in vivo results remained 57.2%, of which most concerned direct plasma treatment (97.9%). Analyses performed indicate that CAP has been beneficial in many skin disorders. While, most CAP applications were focused on wound healing and melanoma treatment. This study provides a brief overview of CAP sources and relative medical applications in dermatology.