Corona discharge plasma application for in vitro modulation of fibroblast proliferation and wound healing

Abstract

Thermal plasma effects have long been employed for tissue coagulation, cutting, desiccation, and cauterizing for a long time. Nevertheless, there have been significant developments in cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) with well-controlled temperatures below 40?. Thereby, in the last decade, a new innovative field, often referred to as plasma medicine, has emerged. Effective using of a handheld portable custom designed plasma jet generator for biomedical applications is reported. Portable CAP-generator (∼80g weight) is operated in self-repetitive nanosecond pulse corona discharge at atmospheric pressure air without any external feed gas. The generator has diverse positive results in biomedical applications due to production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). In vitro experiments with human fibroblasts were carried out. As a result, the optimal plasma exposure time promoting maximum fibroblasts proliferation was determined. Additionally, various experiments of in vivo rat's wounds healing by CAP treatment have been conducted. As a result of the research, control-group mortality was 80%, and in contrast to this it was 10% in the plasma treated group. Resulting from the points mentioned above, the custom designed CAP-generator could be a useful tool for sterilization of contaminated areas, and for wound healing.