Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2010 Oct;53(10):593-602. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.10.593.

New Conversing Technology; Plasma Medicine

• Kim CH

• KMID: 1490029
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.10.593

Abstract

Plasma is generated by ionizing of neutral gas molecules, resulting in a mixture of energy particles, including electrons and ions. Recent progress in the understanding of non-thermal atmospheric plasma has led to applications in biomedicine. Studies investigating the interaction of plasma jets with living cells have shown eradication of pathogens, blood coagulation, and the ablation of cultured cancer cells. The effects of cold atmospheric plasma are thus not due to heat, but to active species, mainly oxygen/hydroxyl radicals and nitric oxide, generated in the plasma or in the tissue brought into contact with the plasma. Plasma treatment offers the possibility of modifying tissues at the cellular level and removing diseased sections without inflammation and damage, as well as suppressing infections. Our study showed that non-thermal atmospheric plasma induced growth inhibition and cell death in cancer cells. This study supports the hypothesis that non-thermal atmospheric plasma constitutes a new biologic tool with the potential for therapeutic applications that modulate cell structure and function.

Keyword

Non-thermal atmospheric plasma; Plasma medicine; Apoptosis; Cancer

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Blood Coagulation
Cell Death
Cold Temperature
Electrons
Hot Temperature
Inflammation
Ions
Nitric Oxide
Plasma
Ions
Nitric Oxide