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Purpose: To investigate the antimicrobial effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on pathogens associated with canine bacterial keratitis. Materials and methods: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and Streptococcus canis strains, which were obtained from dogs with infectious keratitis, were subjected to testing. For each species, four isolates and a reference strain were cultivated on Columbia sheep blood agar and treated with the kiNPen Vet® plasma pen from Neoplas GmbH, Greifswald, Germany. Various continuous treatment durations (0.5, 2, and 5 min) were applied, along with a 0.5-min treatment repeated four times at short intervals. These treatments were conducted at distances of 3 and 18 mm between the agar surface and the pen. Results: CAP treatment reduced bacterial growth in all three species. The most effective treatment duration was 5 min at 3 mm distance, resulting in inhibition zones ranging from 19 to 22 mm for P. aeruginosa, 26-45 mm for S. pseudintermedius and an overall reduction of bacterial growth for Str. canis. Inhibition zones were smaller with decreasing treatment duration and larger distance. Treatment times of 30 s repeated four times and 2 min showed comparable results. Treatment with argon alone did not lead to visible reduction of bacterial growth. Conclusion: Argon cold atmospheric plasma demonstrated a potent in vitro antimicrobial effect on P. aeruginosa, S. pseudintermedius and Str. canis strains with the latter showing the highest sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopolymers have intrinsic drawbacks compared to traditional plastics, such as hydrophilicity, poor thermo-mechanical behaviours, and barrier characteristics. Therefore, biopolymers or their film modifications offer a chance to create packaging materials with specified properties. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) or Low temperature plasma (LTP) has a wide range of applications and has recently been used in the food industry as a potent tool for non-thermal food processing. Though its original purpose was to boost polymer surface energy for better adherence and printability, it has since become an effective technique for surface decontamination of food items and food packaging materials. These revolutionary innovative food processing methods enable the balance between the economic constraints and higher quality while ensuring food stability and minimal processing. For CAP to be considered as a viable alternative food processing technology, it must positively affect food quality. Food products may have their desired functional qualities by adjusting the conditions for cold plasma formation. Cold plasma is a non-thermal method that has little effects on the treated materials and is safe for the environment. In this review, we focus on recent cold plasma advances on various food matrices derived from plants and animals with the aim of highlighting potential applications, ongoing research, and market trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature plasma treatment with atmospheric discharge with runaway electrons (DRE) was shown to be an efficient way to activate carbon fiber's (CF) surface and subsequently increase its interlayer shear strength (ILSS) values. It was demonstrated that an acceptable ILSS level was achieved after a DRE plasma treatment duration of 15 min. The treatment of CFs resulted in their surface roughness being increased and their functional groups grafting. The XPS data showed a change in the chemical composition and the formation of reactive oxygen-containing groups. SEM examinations of the PPS/CF laminates clearly demonstrated a difference in adhesive interaction at the PPS/CF interface. After the DRE plasma treatment, CFs were better wetted with the polymer, and the samples cohesively fractured predominantly through the matrix, but not along the PPS/CF interface, as was observed for the sample reinforced with the untreated CFs. The computer simulation results showed that raising the adhesive strength enhanced the ILSS values, but reduced resistance to transverse cracking under the loading pin. In general, higher flexural strength of the PPS/CF laminates was achieved with a greater interlayer adhesion level, which was consistent with the obtained experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the mechanism of cold plasma modification (CP) of guar seed galactomannan on the structural, chemical, dietary fiber profile and the possibility to stabilize the orange juice. The cold plasma treatments were done at 170 and 230 V for 30 and 60 min and investigated for the modifications. The polar oxidative functionalities COOH- (283.36% rise) and OH- (16% rise) increased sequentially as a result of plasma-induced depolymerization with an increase in plasma voltage and time which was also supported by FTIR findings. The inclusion of COOH- reduced the pH from 7.09 ± 0.01 to a minimum of 4.96 ± 0.01. The cleavage of galactose side chains increased the free galactose content and reduced the M/G ratio from 2.38 ± 0.73 to 1.67 ± 0.19. The plasma etching phenomena reduced the average particle size to a minimum of 14.36 nm and is also seen in SEM. An increase in surface negative charges was shown with a decrease in zeta potential. The phenomenon of depolymerization, glycosidic cleavages at the side chains, and surface etching of cold plasma was exhibited with substantial evidence. Total dietary fiber was unaffected with an elevated soluble fiber content. Plasma treated guar gum has improved the stability of orange juice (rise in serum cloudiness with reduction in sedimentation and viscosity) without significant modifications in the quality (total soluble solids, pH, color). The obtained results demonstrate the CP interaction with guar gum and prove the potential of this green technology for the production of partially depolymerized guar gum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), is a technology based on non‐thermal ionized gas that is used for cancer therapy in research. We evaluated the effect of CAP on malignant melanoma cancer cell line (B16) in comparison with normal cells (L929). Methods: The effect of CAP on the cytotoxicity of B16 and L929 cell lines was assayed by the MTT method and inverted microscopy. The induction of apoptosis in cells was evaluated using a fluorescence microscope. FTIR monitored the CAP effect in biomacromolecules changes in these cell lines. QPCR assayed gene expression of BAX, BCL‐2, and Caspase‐3 (CASP‐3). Results: The results of the MTT test showed CAP has a cytotoxic effect on the B16 cancer cell line more than L929 normal cells (p < 0.0001). The results of invert and fluorescence microscopy showed CAP‐induced apoptotic morphology on cancerous cells. FTIR spectroscopy indicated CAP changes biomacromolecules structure. Evaluation of gene expression showed CAP increased BAX and CASP‐3 gene expression. Also, it decreased BCL‐2 gene expression. Conclusions: Taken together, CAP may change biomacromolecule structures involved in apoptosis pathways, decrease proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the excellent properties of silicone endotracheal prostheses, their main limitation is the formation of a polymicrobial biofilm on their surfaces. It can cause local inflammation, interfering with the local healing process and leading to further complications in the clinical scenario. The present study evaluated the inhibitory effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on multispecies biofilms grown on the silicone protheses' surfaces. In addition to silicone characterization before and after CAP exposure, CAP cytotoxicity on immortalized human bronchial epithelium cell line (BEAS-2B) was evaluated. The aging time test reported that CAP could temporarily change the silicone surface wetting characteristics from hydrophilic (80.5°) to highly hydrophilic (<5°). ATR-FTIR showed no significant alterations in the silicone surficial chemical composition after CAP exposure for 5 min. A significant log reduction in viable cells in monospecies biofilms (log CFU/mL) of C. albicans, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa (0.636, 0.738, and 1.445, respectively) was detected after CAP exposure. Multispecies biofilms exposed to CAP showed significant viability reduction for C. albicans and S. aureus (1.385 and 0.831, respectively). The protocol was not cytotoxic to BEAS-2B. CAP can be a simple and effective method to delay multispecies biofilm formation inside the endotracheal prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Complexity, heterogeneity, and treatment resistance of cancers create challenges in achieving successful treatment outcomes. Personalized cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) therapy emerges as a prospective approach, fine-tuning parameters for individual patients. Self-adaptive CAP optimizes therapy in real-time, promising better outcomes in personalized cancer care. Plasma technology shows tremendous potential for revolutionizing oncology research and treatment. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and electromagnetic emissions generated through gas plasma jets have attracted significant attention due to their selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. To leverage the full potential of plasma medicine, researchers have explored the use of mathematical models and various subsets or approaches within machine learning, such as reinforcement learning and deep learning. This review emphasizes the significant application of advanced algorithms in the adaptive plasma system, paving the way for precision and dynamic cancer treatment. Realizing the full potential of machine learning techniques in plasma medicine requires research efforts, data sharing, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Unraveling the complex mechanisms, developing real-time diagnostics, and optimizing advanced models will be crucial to harnessing the true power of plasma technology in oncology. The integration of personalized and dynamic plasma therapies, alongside AI and diagnostic sensors, presents a transformative approach to cancer treatment with the potential to improve outcomes globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regenerative bone tissue medicine, combining artificial bone substitutes with progenitor cells is a prospective approach. Surface modification via cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) enhances biomaterial–cell interactions, which are crucial for successful bone regeneration. Using a rabbit calvarial critical-size defect model, we assessed the use of CAP-pretreated beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), alone or with periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), for bone regeneration. Histological and histomorphometric analyses at two and four weeks revealed significantly improved bone regeneration and reduced inflammation in the CAP-treated β-TCP with PDLSCs compared to β-TCP alone. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed an increase in the bone healing markers, including bone morphogenic proteins 2 and 4, runt-related transcription factor 2, collagen-1, and osteonectin, after two and four weeks in the CAP-treated β-TCP implants with PDLSC. This in vivo study demonstrates for the first time the superior bone regenerative capacity of CAP-pretreated β-TCP seeded with PDLSCs, highlighting the therapeutic potential of this combined approach in osteoregeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma-activated water (PAW), obtained by exposing liquid to cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) for a period, has gained widespread attention for its potential as anti-bacterial, anti-infective, anti-cancer and other biological agents. It is important to understand the PAW behavior and express it in a 'visualization' form. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and aquaphotomics were introduced in this study to investigate the PAW spectra to visualize the water molecular species and try to analyze the production and changes of the active substances in PAW. Second-order derivative, PCA and PLS were applied to identify specific peaks to construct the aquagram and reference method for the ROS assay used to prove the spectral results. The results showed that a longer treatment time resulted in greater spectral changes which could be visualized with 12 water matrix coordinates (WAMACS) and the change trends were in accordance with the ROS concentration variations. Furthermore, during PAW sample storage, there were fluctuations in spectral changes, with a general trend of increase, and a gradual decrease in ROS concentration due to active substance reactions in PAW. In conclusion, this study presents a new perspective on examining the water behavior of PAW and offers a new method to explore cold plasma biomedical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plasma (CP) is a non-thermal preservation technology that has been successfully used to decontaminate and extend the shelf life of aquatic products. However, the preservation effect of CP treatment is determined by several factors, including voltage, time, and gas compositions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of gas composition (GasA: 10% O2, 50% N2, 40% CO2; GasB: air; GasC: 30% O2, 30% N2, 40% CO2) on the lipid oxidation of tilapia fillets treated after CP treatment. Changes in the lipid oxidation values, the percentages of fatty acids, and sensory scores were studied during 8 d of refrigerator storage. The results showed that the CP treatment significantly increased all the primary and secondary lipid oxidation values measured in this study, as well as the percentages of saturated fatty acids, but decreased the percentages of unsaturated fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids. The lipid oxidation values were significantly increased in the GasC-CP group. After 8 d, clearly increased percentages of saturated fatty acids, a low level of major polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially linoleic (C18:2n-6)), and a decrease in the percentages of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) were found in GasC-CP; that is, the serious oxidation of lipids was found in the high O2 concentration group. In addition, the sensory score was also lower than that of the hypoxia CP group. Therefore, high O2 concentrations can enhance lipid oxidation and the changes in the fatty acid concentration. Controlling the O2 concentration is reasonable to limit the degree to which lipids are oxidized in tilapia after the in-package CP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relation between cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) effect on seeds and the plasma parameters. As a source of CAPP, the diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) generated in nitrogen, ambient air, and oxygen at atmospheric pressure was used. Results of germination and the level of DNA damage of soybean seeds (Glycine max L.) treated in plasma and plasma gaseous products showed that the most advantageous is the use of ambient air plasma treatment. The water contact angle (WCA) of samples treated directly in plasma was significantly smaller than that of samples treated with gaseous products. Using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), we did not observe significant changes between the spectra of individual samples, what indicates that there is no damage on the surface of the samples during the treatment, only the binding of polar groups. The method of optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study the plasma parameters. The most radiant system observed in ambient air and nitrogen plasma is the second positive system of nitrogen N 2 C 3 ∏ u → B 3 ∏ g . FTIR measurements showed the presence of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species O3, NO2, N2O, NO, HNO2 depending on the working gas. Finally, it can be assumed that the positive effect of plasma on the seed is caused not only by the individual components of the plasma, but also by their synergistic effect, while the ratio of the individual active particles as well as the plasma exposure to the seeds are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has demonstrated its efficacy in degrading organophosphorus or organochlorine pesticide residues without generating secondary pollution. Yet its potential in degrading triazole pesticides and methoxyacrylate pesticides that are gaining popularities in more and more countries remains unexplored. Using benazoxystrobin as the modelling molecule to be degraded, we demonstrated in this paper that CAP could effectively degrade triazole or methoxyacrylate pesticides, with the efficacy being influenced by many factors such as the voltage, flow rate, and frequency. Specifically, CAP could effectively degrade benazoxystrobin via destroying the benzene ring structure; the degradation efficacy can reach 90%, with 'ionized oxygen', '60 V voltage' '2 L.min−1 oxygen flow rate' and '9 min treatment duration' being associated with the optimal degradation effect; active CAP articles capable of degrading benazoxystrobin are enriched with ROS, where more oxygen is needed to degrade higher concentration of benazoxystrobin. Our study, for the first time, showed the efficacy of CAP in degrading triazole and methoxyacrylate type of pesticides, providing experimental support for its industrial translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plasma-activated water (PAW) is a solution created by exposing water to cold atmospheric plasma discharge, resulting in a biocidal agent with unique biochemical properties attributed to highly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Plasma-activated water (PAW) has been the subject of research for its potential in promoting seed germination. While it has shown promising results, the exact mechanism by which PAW promotes seed growth remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role of PAW in promoting mung bean germination, including its effects on vitality improvement and the triggering of plant stress responses to promote crop growth. Through the utilization of next-generation sequencing, we aim to explore the interaction between the properties of PAW and gene expression in mung beans. By deciphering the nature of PAW and analyzing gene expression patterns, we hope to uncover the underlying mechanisms that govern their interaction. Results: The results revealed that nitrogen plasma-activated water (NPAW) treatment improves the vitality and hypocotyl length of mung beans and leads to a good overall growth state. Moreover, we identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including genes related to stress responses, growth regulation, and metabolic processes, that were upregulated or downregulated in response to PAW treatment. As a result of APAW treatment, 168 genes were upregulated and 90 genes were downregulated. Furthermore, 179 genes were upregulated in the NPAW compared to 125 genes that were downregulated in the control group. Gene expression analysis revealed involvement in stress signaling and metabolic processes. Conclusions: PAW treatment can promote crop growth and serve as a reference for other seeds. This research provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms and benefits of PAW in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri) is a common intestinal pathogenic bacteria that mainly causes bacillary dysentery, especially in low socioeconomic countries. This study aimed to apply cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on S. flexneri directly to achieve rapid, efficient and environmentally friendly sterilization. Methods: The operating parameters of the equipment were determined by plasma diagnostics. The plate count and transmission electron microscope were employed to calculate bacterial mortality rates and observe the morphological damage of bacterial cells. Measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide anions were detected by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) and Dihydroethidium fluorescence probes, respectively. The fluorescence intensity (a. u.) reflects the relative contents. Additionally, the experiment about the single effect of temperature, ultraviolet (UV), and ROS on bacteria was conducted. Results: The peak discharge voltage and current during plasma operation were 3.92kV and 66mA. After discharge, the bacterial mortality rate of 10, 20, 30 and 40 s of plasma treatment was 60.71%, 74.02%, 88.11% and 98.76%, respectively. It was shown that the intracellular ROS content was proportional to the plasma treatment time and ROS was the major contributor to bacterial death. Conclusion: In summary, our results illustrated that the plasma treatment could inactivate S. flexneri efficiently, and the ROS produced by plasma is the leading cause of bacterial mortality. This highly efficient sterilization method renders plasma a highly promising solution for hospitals, clinics, and daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good hand hygiene has proven to be essential in reducing the uncontrolled spread of human pathogens. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) may provide an alternative to disinfecting hands with ethanol-based handrubs when handwashing facilities are unavailable. CAP can be safely applied to the skin if the energy is well controlled. In this study, radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) plasma sources were built with a pin-to-mesh electrodes configuration inside a fused silica tube with a 5 mm inner diameter. Microbiological assays based on EN 13697:2015+A1:2019 using Escherichia coli DSM 682 or Staphylococcus epidermidis DSM 20044 were used to examine the antimicrobial effect of various plasma conditions. Metal and silicone disks that model skin were used as inoculation matrices. The prototype air RF CAP achieved significant disinfection in the MHz range on stainless steel and silicone substrates. This is equivalent to half the performance of direct current CAP, which is only effective on conductive substrates. Using only electricity and air CAP could, with further optimization to increase its efficacy, replace or complement current hand disinfection methods, and mitigate the economic burden of public health crises in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Previous studies reported the promising inhibitory effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on Candida albicans. However, the exact mechanisms of CAP's action on the fungal cell are still poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the CAP effect on C. albicans cell wall, by evaluating the alterations on its structure and biochemical composition; (2) Methods: C. albicans cells treated with Helium-CAP were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in order to detect morphological, topographic and biochemical changes in the fungal cell wall. Cells treated with caspofungin were also analyzed for comparative purposes; (3) Results: Expressive morphological and topographic changes, such as increased roughness and shape modification, were observed in the cells after CAP exposure. The alterations detected were similar to those observed after the treatment with caspofungin. The main biochemical changes occurred in polysaccharides content, and an overall decrease in glucans and an increase in chitin synthesis were detected; (4) Conclusions: Helium-CAP caused morphological and topographic alterations in C. albicans cells and affected the cell wall polysaccharide content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advancements, therapies against advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain ineffective, resulting in unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) offers a promising approach in the treatment of malignant neoplasms. Although the effects of CAP in abrogating OSCC have been explored, the exact mechanisms driving CAP-induced cancer cell death and the changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression are not fully understood. We fabricated and calibrated an argon-CAP device to explore the effects of CAP irradiation on the growth and expression of oncogenic miRNAs in OSCC. The analysis revealed that, in OSCC cell lines following CAP irradiation, there was a significant reduction in viability; a downregulation of miR-21, miR-31, miR-134, miR-146a, and miR-211 expression; and an inactivation of the v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signals. Pretreatment with blockers of apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis synergistically reduced CAP-induced cell death, indicating a combined induction of variable death pathways via CAP. Combined treatments using death inhibitors and miRNA mimics, alongside the activation of AKT and ERK following the exogenous expression, counteracted the cell mortality associated with CAP. The CAP-induced downregulation of miR-21, miR-31, miR-187, and miR-211 expression was rescued through survival signaling. Additionally, CAP irradiation notably inhibited the growth of SAS OSCC cell xenografts on nude mice. The reduced expression of oncogenic miRNAs in vivo aligned with in vitro findings. In conclusion, our study provides new lines of evidence demonstrating that CAP irradiation diminishes OSCC cell viability by abrogating survival signals and oncogenic miRNA expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is one of the most significant causes of death all over the world. This illness, due to abnormal blood glucose levels, leads to impaired wound healing and, as a result, foot ulcers. These ulcers cannot heal quickly in diabetic patients and may finally result in amputation. In recent years, different research has been conducted to heal diabetic foot ulcers: one of them is using cold atmospheric pressure plasma. Nowadays, cold atmospheric pressure plasma is highly regarded in medicine because of its positive effects and lack of side effects. These conditions have caused plasma to be considered a promising technology in medicine and especially diabetic wound healing because studies show that it can heal chronic wounds that are resistant to standard treatments. The positive effects of plasma are due to different reactive species, UV radiation, and electromagnetic fields. This work reviews ongoing cold atmospheric pressure plasma improvements in diabetic wound healing. It shows that plasma can be a promising tool in treating chronic wounds, including ones resulting from diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Microbial infection, immune system dysfunction, and skin barrier defunctionalization have been regarded as the central events in AD pathogenesis. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is an unbound system composed of many free electrons, ions, and neutral particles, with macroscopic time and spatial scales. Based on dielectric barrier discharge, glow discharge, corona discharge, or arch discharge, CAP is generated at normal atmospheric pressure. Its special physical properties maintain its temperature at 20°C–40°C, combining the advantages of high safety and strong ionic activity. CAP has been tentatively used in inflammatory or pruritic skin disorders such as psoriasis, pruritus, and ichthyosis. Increasing data suggest that CAP can attack the microbial structure due to its unique effects, such as heat, ultraviolet radiation, and free radicals, resulting in its inactivation. Meanwhile, CAP regulates reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in and out of the cells, thereby improving cell immunocompetence. In addition, CAP has a beneficial effect on the skin barrier function via changing the skin lipid contents and increasing the skin permeability to drugs. This review summarizes the potential effects of CAP on the major pathogenic causes of AD and discusses the safety of CAP application in dermatology in order to expand the clinical application value of CAP to AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), as a noninvasive technology, has shown promise in dentistry as it might successfully treat various oral conditions. The antimicrobial capacity of CAP has been proven and it is effective in reducing the main microorganisms responsible for oral infections. Furthermore, CAP has also been explored in the field of tissue regeneration with a great response from both soft and hard tissue. The surface modification ability of CAP is another area of interest, revealing a potential improvement in the osseointegration of dental implants. Additionally, there are other areas within dentistry that have studied the use of CAP, such as surface disinfection, bleaching, and cavity preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most common type of gynecological tumor, presenting poor prognosis at diagnosis and with recurrences being frequently observed. Reactive species generated by physical plasma and transferred into liquids have shown promising results in cancer therapy. Recently, Ringer's lactate solution was exposed to plasma showing selective anticancer activity on EOC cells. In this work, we compared the effect of plasma treatment, using the kINPen plasma jet, on Ringer's saline and Ringer's lactate solution. These two plasma‐treated liquids were analyzed chemically by quantifying reactive species and the extent of lactate oxidation. The biological efficiency of the plasma‐treated liquids was explored in EOC cells. The results show that lactate is affected by plasma treatment, displaying a reduction of cytotoxic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current trends that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and medicine have created new opportunities for improvement in both early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this framework, AI might also have the potential to significantly revolutionize the way we approach the field of plasma medicine, an area that is quickly growing and uses cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to address a variety of medical conditions. Plasma medicine offers promising therapeutic alternatives for conditions widely ranging from cancer treatment to wound healing and antimicrobial applications, but the complexity of the plasma sources and the huge number of parameters may be overwhelming for the determination of underlying mechanisms and for understanding the effect of the source. This is where AI steps in, to provide strong tools for modeling, evaluating, and controlling CAPs. By harnessing the power of AI, researchers in the plasma medicine area, are now able to evaluate massive volumes of data, enhance their treatment protocols, and predict treatment results with a level of precision never possible before. Hereby, we emphasized the potential and further utilization of AI in plasma medicine in light of the fascinating and recent developments in this cooperation. New opportunities are encouraging, but potential limitations, ethical issues, model transparency, and generalizability should be considered. Regardless, the possibilities are endless, and the future of plasma medicine is looking brighter than ever with the implementation of AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in treating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a highly metastatic cancer. To assess the anticancer activity, two CAP treatment methods—direct treatment and indirect treatment (plasma‐treated N‐acetyl cysteine solution)—were used. Results indicate that both methods selectively target SCC cells, inducing oxidative and nitrosative stress, leading to decreased metabolic activity and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, a critical feature of cancer cells, metastatic behavior is also inhibited by CAP treatment. Coculture experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of CAP treatment in selectively inactivating SCC cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. These findings suggest the potential use of CAP as a selective and effective treatment for SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Plasma-Activated Water (PAW) was synthesized using a coaxial Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) reactor, benefiting from the elevated capacity of air-flow-assisted DBD discharges to enhance nitrogen-based species concentration. By manipulating operational parameters, including gas flow rate, activation time, and DI water volume, we achieved significant concentrations of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). As a result, the PAW obtained displayed pronounced physicochemical attributes: a pH of 2.06, an ORP of 275 mV, conductivity of 3 mS/cm, and TDS of 1200 mg/L. A pivotal aspect of this research was the evaluation of the reactor's efficiency, as indicated by metrics like the specific input energy and ozone efficiency yield. The antimicrobial potential of the PAW was also assessed against pathogenic microbes, with remarkable reductions in viability for both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (99.99%) and a more moderate decrease for Candida albicans (37%). These findings underscore the capability of coaxial DBD reactors in crafting high-quality PAW with significant antimicrobial properties, necessitating further studies to validate its broad-spectrum and safe applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of different final irrigation regimens (Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet, MTAD, and EDTA) in removing the smear layer from intra-radicular dentin using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Eighty-four mandibular premolars were prepared with ProTaper Universal hand files and were equally divided into four groups i.e. Normal saline (control), EDTA, MTAD and CAP Plasma Jet. Prepared samples in the control, EDTA and MTAD groups were irrigated with 5 milliliters of the irrigant, and it was retained for 2 min. In the CAP Plasma Jet group, the plasma plume was directed towards the canal lumen for 2 min. The smear layer removal of all the groups was evaluated at the coronal, middle and apical thirds. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn's test. Evaluation by SEM showed that the smear layer removal ability of MTAD and EDTA were significantly better than CAP Plasma Jet (p < 0.05). While CAP Plasma Jet showed results comparable to EDTA in the coronal third. In the middle and apical third of the canal, its effect was comparable to the control group (p > 0.05). MTAD and EDTA aided in better smear layer removal than the CAP Plasma Jet in the coronal, middle, and apical third of the test samples. CAP Plasma jet performed better in the coronal third. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold Atmospheric Pressure (CAP) plasma has shown successful antibacterial efficacy in different medical applications which have prompted researchers to explore its possible use in endodontics. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the disinfection effectiveness of CAP Plasma jet with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and Qmix in Enterococcus Faecalis infected root canals at different time intervals (2, 5, and 10 min). 210 single-rooted mandibular premolars were chemomechanically prepared and infected with E. faecalis. The test samples were exposed to CAP Plasma jet, 5.25% NaOCl, and Qmix for 2, 5, and 10 min. The residual bacteria from the root canals if any were collected and evaluated for colony-forming units (CFUs) growth. ANOVA and Tukey's tests were used to evaluate the significant difference between treatment groups. 5.25% NaOCl showed significantly more antibacterial effectiveness (<0.001) when compared with all other test groups except Qmix at 2 and 10 min of exposure time. A minimum contact time of 5 min with 5.25% NaOCl is recommended to get zero bacterial growth in E. faecalis infected root canals. QMix requires a minimum contact time of 10 min to achieve optimal CFUs reduction and CAP plasma jet requires a minimum contact time of 5 min to achieve substantial CFUs reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kodo millet's popularity grows due to its diverse applications and health benefits, primarily as a starch source for industries like food processing, requiring modifications to overcome raw starch limitations. In this study, raw kodo starch underwent treatment with cold plasma, varying in voltage (10, 20, and 30 kV) and duration (10, 20, and 30 min). The treated samples were designated as S1 to S9. The results showed that the modified starch exhibited significantly higher G' and G" values compared to the control sample. Three different models were attempted to describe the flow behavior, with the most suitable model selected. This analysis led to an increase in yield stress from 86.55 to 217.98 Pa and an increase in the flow index from 0.31 to 0.56 for the modified starch. This understanding of the rheological characteristics of modified starch can be invaluable for innovating new products, blending novel ingredients, and optimizing manufacturing processes. Practical applications: Kodo millet has gained significant popularity in recent times owing to its high fiber content and low glycemic index. In this research, starch extracted from kodo millet underwent plasma treatment, resulting in a modified starch with enhanced functional properties. The study focused on exploring the rheological properties of this treated starch, and the findings revealed notable improvements in dynamic rheological parameters, including the storage modulus, loss modulus, and viscosity of the starch, all of which increased due to the plasma treatment. The enhanced viscosity makes kodo millet starch particularly suitable for a wide range of food applications. This modified starch finds practical use in the preparation of porridges, soups, and as a reliable filling agent in various food products. This emerging technology has captured the attention of food manufacturers in the grain processing sector, offering a means to elevate the quality and desirability of new food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired wound healing in diabetic individuals presents a significant clinical challenge, and this study explores the impact of low-temperature microwave plasma in an argon atmosphere, a type of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), on wound regeneration in diabetic rats. The findings reveal that this CAP treatment accelerates wound regeneration in diabetic rats, promoting faster wound closure, reducing inflammation, and enhancing critical regenerative processes such as angiogenesis, collagen synthesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Additionally, CAP exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the immune response towards a pro-regenerative state. These results underscore the potential of CAP in diabetic wound care, offering a promising approach to address delayed wound healing in diabetic patients and potentially improving the quality of life for those with chronic diabetic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the review was a comprehensive analysis of the biological effects and applications of cold plasma. First of all, physical principles of cold atmospheric plasma, including generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as intermediates, were discussed. The analysis of the specialized literature on plasma medicine as an innovative interdisciplinary direction allowed us to show the physical mechanisms of biological effects of cold plasma associated with the modulation of free radical processes in the biological objects. That is why correction of oxidative stress and other disorders of redox balance was determined as direct target of the effect of studied factor. Among the most significant aspects of the biological action of cold plasma, antibacterial and pro-regenerative activity, as well as modulation of apoptosis, should be cited. On this basis, the factor in question determines its application in oncology, surgery, dermatology and other fields of medicine. One of the most important effects of cold plasma was its antibacterial and antifungal activity, which in useful for wound healing, sterilization etc. Special attention was paid to possibilities of cold plasma therapy in combustiology. Molecular, tissue and systemic mechanisms of sanogenic effects of cold plasma was demonstrated and analyzed. Results of own studied in this field was observed. Further discovery of the biological effects of cold plasma can significantly expand the range of its medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry (ISPC) is a biannual conference that was held in Kyoto, Japan for its 25th edition. The conference, which was originally scheduled for 2021 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, welcomed 563 attendees from 35 countries. A total of 465 oral and poster presentations were delivered, covering various scientific and application topics. The conference also awarded the Plasma Chemistry Award to Dr. Anthony Murphy and Dr. Francoise Massines for their lifetime achievements in the field. Additionally, the Young Investigator Awards and various medals were given to outstanding researchers. The conference proceedings are available online. [Extracted from the article]

Plasma semi-ionized gas is a novel tool with various applications, from engineering to medicine. In light of improved plasma devices and the invention of cold plasma at room temperature in recent years, plasma medicine has gained much attention from researchers. CAP can halt a wide variety of cancer cell growth. Moreover, it can kill cancer cells selectively with the most minor side effects for normal tissue. Plasma can be utilized alone or in combination with other treatment agents. There are several clinical trials in which plasma has been chosen as an anticancer tool. Specifically, in urology, using plasma for localized prostate cancer focal therapy seems rational and applicable. However, before any step, there is a need to propose a more precise definition of plasma dose generated by different devices. The ability to compare studies can shed light on how to introduce plasma devices for clinical application in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms possesses a great threat to human health and the environment. Considering the exponential increase in the spread of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, it would be prudent to consider the use of alternative antimicrobial agents or therapies. Only a sustainable, sustained, determined, and coordinated international effort will provide the solutions needed for the future. Plant secondary metabolites show bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity similar to that of conventional antibiotics. However, to effectively eliminate infection, secondary metabolites may need to be activated by heat treatment or combined with other therapies. Cold atmospheric plasma therapy is yet another novel approach that has proven antimicrobial effects. In this review, we explore the physiochemical mechanisms that may give rise to the improved antimicrobial activity of secondary metabolites when combined with cold atmospheric plasma therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of oxidation of molecular nitrogen by high-energy oxidants, such as nitric acid vapor, products of the thermolysis of nitric acid, and hydrogen peroxide, in a cold plasma stream was studied. To implement the process of obtaining nitric acid from atmospheric air using reproductive technology (Zakharov's method), the design of a reactor for obtaining nitrogen oxides by direct oxidation of nitrogen in a cold plasma stream is proposed. At the same time, it was proposed to use the effect of obtaining nitrogen oxides in an air mixture with nitric acid vapors (the Karavaev effect) and during the thermal decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with atmospheric nitrogen (the Nagiev effect). The effectiveness of the use of cold plasma for the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen was established, which is confirmed by the obtained dependences. It is shown that the amount of nitrogen oxides that are formed depends on the efficiency of the formation of a stable flow of OH- radicals in the plasma flow. It was also found that the amount of nitrogen oxides depends on the parameters of the plasma generator, the composition of the liquid used in the burner, and the amount of air supplied. The effect of nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohols as activators of atmospheric nitrogen oxidation in a high-energy field was revealed. It was determined that when comparing three activator substances, which are able to form OH- radicals during their decomposition, it is hydrogen peroxide that is the most promising activator substance for carrying out the process of atmospheric nitrogen oxidation in the plasma flow. The amount of nitrogen oxides formed in the cold plasma region is almost independent of the flow rate of the reaction mixture through the reactor and remains almost unchanged in a wide range of changes in flow rates from 30 to 3000 l/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past several decades, orthodontic treatment has been increasingly sought out by adults, many of whom have undergone restorative dental procedures that cover enamel. Because the characteristics of restorative materials differ from those of enamel, typical bonding techniques do not yield excellent restoration–bracket bonding strengths. Plasma treatment is an emerging surface treatment that could potentially improve bonding properties. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate currently available studies assessing the effect of plasma treatment on the shear bond strength (SBS) and failure mode of resin cement/composite on the surface of ceramic materials. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant studies, which were categorized by restorative material and plasma treatment types that were evaluated. It was determined that cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment using helium and H2O gas was effective at raising the SBS of feldspathic porcelain to a bonding agent, while CAP treatment using helium gas might also be a potential treatment method for zirconia and other types of ceramics. More importantly, CAP treatment using helium has the potential for being carried out chairside due to its non-toxicity, low temperature, and short treatment time. However, because all the studies were conducted in vitro and not tested in an orthodontic setting, further research must be conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of specific plasma treatments in comparison to current orthodontic bonding treatments in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the use of an electro-optic (EO) probe for the spatially and temporally resolved characterization of the electric field (E-field) associated with guided ionization waves—or guided streamers—propagating at atmospheric pressure. An AC high-voltage power supply (6 kV at 18 kHz) is used to generate guided ionization waves in helium with a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet device (APPJ). The capabilities of this electro-optic technique are investigated with and without the discharge. This innovative technology will use to carry out the optical polarimetric analysis of the APPJ with simultaneous real-time measurement of longitudinal and radial components of the electric field vector. Last but not least, an application-based case study of the ionization waves propagating and interacting with the EO probe—being a solid dielectric target—is also reported. The results will bring realistic information on the potential perturbation induced by the EO probe itself on the E-field characterization at the macroscopic scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensity of the interaction between a helium cold atmospheric plasma jet (CAPJ) and a dielectric surface or animal skin is compared in experiment and numerical simulation. A cold plasma jet at atmospheric pressure is generated by a sinusoidal or positive pulsed voltage with different pulse durations in optimal modes. The impact effect is estimated on the basis of measured and calculated currents, line intensities in the CAPJ spectrum and temperature fields. The measured CAPJ characteristics show that the pulsed voltage for the CAPJ excitation is preferable compared to the sinusoidal mode. Varying the pulse duration of the periodic pulsed voltage makes it possible to obtain the maximum current and electric field strength at the surface within the permissible temperature in the contact area of the CAPJ with the skin of mice (<42°C). It is shown that the results of the CAPJ study obtained in physical experiments using a dielectric plate are applicable for tumor-bearing mice treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the bactericidal conditions of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on Pseudomonas fluorescen in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and the bactericidal mechanism of CAP in MAP, three factor and three levels orthogonal test was used to optimize the conditions of CAP treatment. The inhibitory mechanism of CAP against Pseudomonas fluorescens was studied by cell activity, cell wall permeability, cell membrane integrity, antioxidant enzyme activity and microstructure. The results showed that the best sterilization conditions were as follows: Treatment voltage as 50 kV, treatment time as 180s, modified atmosphere volume ratio as V(N2):V(CO2) = 3:2, under these conditions, the sterilization rate was 99.49%. The inhibitory mechanism of CAP on Pseudomonas fluorescens showed that cold atmospheric plasma treatment reduced cell activity. The integrity of cell wall and cell membrane was damaged, and the leakage of nucleic acid and protein increased, Na+K+-ATPase (ATP) content decreased by 13.10 U/mg prot, Propidium iodide (PI) increased, and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity decreased to 12.09 King unit/g prot. The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase (CAT) in cells decreased. It changes the shape of the cells, making them stick and sag. In conclusion, cold atmospheric plasma combined with modified atmosphere packaging could effectively inhibit Pseudomonas fluorescens, resulting in cell inactivation or death, and the longer the treatment time, the better the effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet (CAPJ) has piqued the interest of researchers for various antimicrobial applications such as disinfection, wound decontamination, etc. In the current context, a deeper understanding of the correlation between CAPJ's intrinsic parameters, discharge characteristics, species composition, and antimicrobial activity is required for any successful application. This research evaluated the effect of intrinsic operational parameters such as voltage, frequency, gas flow rate, and operating gas on the reactive species composition of an in-house-developed CAPJ discharge along with the antimicrobial activity. It was observed that the identified excited atoms (Ar I, He I, N2, and O I), ions (Ar+, N2+, N+, H2O+, H3O+, etc.), radical reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) (OH•), and nonradical RONS (O I, O+, OH+, NO+, O2+, O2−, NO2−, N2O2−, NO3−, N2O3−, etc.) might play a synergistic role in bacterial inactivation via oxidative and electrostatic stress. The variation in voltage, frequency, gas flow rate, and operating gas influenced the discharge chemistry, leading to variation in bacterial inactivation. The reactive species in the discharge responsible for such variation was evaluated extensively. This investigation into various operational parameters would aid in determining the most effective settings for a developed CAPJ to achieve high productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When mature Arabidopsis thaliana seeds are dormant, their germination is prevented in apparently favorable conditions. This primary dormancy can be released during seed dry storage through a process called after-ripening whose duration can last several months. To reduce this delay, cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs) can be used as sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of inducing heterogeneous chemical reactions. While CAP are known to stimulate the germination of various seed species, the relationship between CAP treatments and the amorphous solid state of dry seeds remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that seed dormancy can be alleviated using a cold plasma of ambient air and that this alleviation can be amplified for seeds with high water-content (typically 30%DW) or seeds heated at 60 °C during plasma treatment. Differential scanning micro-calorimetry shows that these characteristics control the glassy/rubbery state of the seed cytoplasm. This technique indicates also that a glass transition to the rubbery state strengthens the CAP effects to alleviate seed dormancy. We propose that lower cytoplasmic viscosity can promote the oxidative signaling induced by CAP which, in turn, improves the germination process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the cold atmospheric plasma torch (CAPT) nozzle distance from the surface of Olivier salad and the treatment time in the reduction of microbial load and sensory properties of the product simultaneously. In this study, the CAPT nozzle was placed at 3, 5, and 7 cm distances from the surface of the Olivier salad, and its efficiency in inactivating the microbial population, decimal reduction time (D-value), and sensory evaluation of the product were evaluated. The results showed that reducing the distance and increasing the plasma treatment time (30, 60, 90, and 120 s) both reduced the microbial load of the product. The maximum inactivation and the minimum D-value are related to the 3 cm distance for 120 s, which has been 3.77, 2.91, and 1.52 log CFU/g for Coliform, Total viable count (TVC), mold and yeast, respectively. The lowest D-value was related to Coliform (4.41 s). CAPT treatment had no significant sensible effect on the product's sensory characteristics compared to the control sample. The treated sample at a 3 cm distance for 90 s and the microbial reduction to an acceptable amount and high acceptancy from sensory evaluators were selected as the superior treatment in this study. Also, the results showed that CAPT could be used successfully in ready-to-eat (RTE) products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produces reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) in the target and can induce cytoprotective effects by activating hormesis‐related pathways when its intensity is in the low range. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of low‐intensified CAP (LICAP) on skin with photoaging‐induced hyperpigmentation in an animal model. Methods: Changes in cell viability and RONS production following LICAP treatment were measured. For the in vivo study, 30 hairless mice underwent antecedent photoaging induction followed by the allocated therapy (i.e., LICAP, topical ascorbic acid (AA), or both). During the first 4 weeks of the treatment period (8 weeks), ultraviolet (UV)‐B irradiation was concurrently administered. Visual inspection and measurement of the melanin index (MI) were performed to assess the change in skin pigmentation at Weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. Results: RONS production increased linearly until the saturation point. Cell viability was not significantly affected by LICAP treatment. At Week 8, MI was significantly decreased in every treatment group compared with the values at Week 0 and Week 4. The treatment effect of the concurrent therapy group was superior to that of the LICAP and AA groups. Conclusion: LICAP appears to be a novel modality for photoprotection and pigment reduction in photodamaged skin. LICAP treatment and topical AA application seem to exert a synergistic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the shear bond strength of two different resin cements to zirconia after treatment with cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) and other surface modification methods. Methods: 189 specimens fabricated from Vita YZ-HT zirconia discs were divided into nine surface treatment groups: (1) Untreated (U), (2) Sandblasting (S), (3) Laser (L). (4) Plasma (P), (5) Primer (PR), (6) Sandblasting + Primer (SPR), (7) Laser + Primer (LPR), (8) Plasma + Primer (PPR), (9) Laser + Plasma + Primer (LPPR). Surface roughness (Ra) and contact angles were measured (n= 10 each),and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analyses were performed (n= 1 each). Specimens were cemented with RelyX Ultimate Clicker adhesive resin cement or Theracern self-adhesive resin cement. The specimens were subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) test. Modes of failure were examined under a stereomicroscope and visualized by SEM. Results: The S, PR, SPR, PPR and LPPR groups showed significantly greater Ra values than the U group. Significantly lower contact angles were observed in the S. P and L groups versus the U group. The SBS values of SPR, PPR and LPPR groups were significantly greater than those of the U group. CAPP can improve zirconia-resin cement bond strength by increasing the wettability of zirconia surfaces pretreated with the 10- methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) primer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has pledged to reach its dual-carbon goals (i.e., carbon peak and carbon neutrality) at the end of 2060. To reduce carbon emission in food preservation industry, the preservation effects of cold atmospheric plasma intermittent treatment (1 min/6 h each day, PL4) combined with 15°C and 4°C only on Qianxi tomato fruits during 7 d storage were investigated. Results indicated that the firmness, L*, sensory taste, glutathione (GSH) content, mineral (Fe, P, K) content, polyphenol oxidase activity of PL4 tomatoes were significantly increased than that in Control during earlier period storage, with worse weight loss, titratable acid, a*, b*, lycopene content, ·OH radical scavenging capacity and same moisture content, total soluble solids, polysaccharide content, total phenolics content, total flavonoid content, ascorbic acid content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity, pectin methylesterase activity. Moreover, the power and R134a consumption of PL4 were highly decreased by around 56.4 kW·h and 0.3 g respectively during whole storage as compared to Control, and reduced more than 99.8% carbon emission based on equipment using stage. All in all, this study illustrated that PL4 treatment can be applied as an ecofriendly, low carbon and sustainable preservation strategy for short-term storage of fruits under 4°C or higher temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin wounds, such as burns, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores, and wounds formed after laser or surgical treatment, comprise a very high proportion of dermatological disorders. Wounds are treated in a variety of ways; however, some wounds are greatly resistant, resulting in delayed healing and an urgent need to introduce new alternatives. Our previous studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has antibacterial activity and promotes cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration in vitro. To further advance the role of CAP in wound healing, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of CAP in vitro by irradiation of common refractory bacteria on the skin, irradiation of normal skin of rats and observing reactions, treatment of scald wounds in rats, and treating clinically common acute wounds. Our findings revealed that CAP can eliminate refractory skin bacteria in vitro; CAP positively affected wound healing in a rat scalding wound model; and direct CAP irradiation of low intensity and short duration did not lead to skin erythema or edema. CAP promises to be a new, economical, and safe means of wound treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grim situation of bacterial infection has undoubtedly become a major threat to human health. In the context of frequent use of antibiotics, a new bactericidal method is urgently needed to fight against drug-resistant bacteria caused by non-standard use of antibiotics. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is composed of a variety of bactericidal species, which has excellent bactericidal effect on microbes. However, the mechanism of interaction between CAP and bacteria is not completely clear. In this paper, we summarize the mechanisms of bacterial killing by CAP in a systematic manner, discuss the responses of bacteria to CAP treatment that are considered to be related to tolerance and their underlying mechanisms, review the recent advances in bactericidal applications of CAP finally. This review indicates that CAP inhibition and tolerance of survival bacteria are a set of closely related mechanisms and suggests that there might be other mechanisms of tolerance to survival bacteria that had not been discovered yet. In conclusion, this review shows that CAP has complex and diverse bactericidal mechanisms, and has excellent bactericidal effect on bacteria at appropriate doses. Key points: • The bactericidal mechanism of CAP is complex and diverse. • There are few resistant bacteria but tolerant bacteria during CAP treatment. • There is excellent germicidal effect when CAP in combination with other disinfectants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work was to design a large-scale cold atmospheric plasma brush (LSCAPB) that can produce a perfectly homogenous large area capable of producing plasma with a length of about 5 cm for studying the inactivation effect of plasma on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that commonly implicated in Food infections. Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae) bacteria with an initial population density of 1.5 × 108 CFU mL−1 were treated, and their survivability with plasma exposure was examined. The effect of plasma exposure in the reduction of bacteria population was investigated using OD600 absorbance, and changes in cell structure and the membrane were studied by scanning electron microscopy analysis. For applied voltage 25 kV and after 10 min the reduction of cold plasma treatment for S. typhi, V. cholerae, B. cereus, and L. monocytogenes were decreased from 1.5 × 108 to 0.3 × 102, 1.5 × 102, 0.6 × 103, and 0.7 × 105 CFU mL−1, respectively. Comet assay analysis was used for studying the effect of plasma exposure on DNA damage, and changes in chemical bonds were analyzed by FTIR analysis. So, the best destruction is obtained at the voltage of 25 kV for all types of bacteria. This study indicates that the inactivation effect of LSCAPB correlates with the kind of bacteria. We demonstrated LSCAPB can be one of the most efficient methods for the inactivation of different types of bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using tissue engineering approaches is one of interesting strategies to repair cartilage injuries. This study reports the preparation of surface-modified electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibrous scaffolds with highly negatively-charged sulfated alginate as functional support for chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. In this regard, polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning, surface-activated by cold atmospheric plasma and further surface-modified with aqueous solutions of sulfated alginate. The scanning electron microscopy images showed the nanofibrous structure of electrospun PCL mats. The successful surface modification of PCL nanofibrous scaffolds with sulfated alginate was confirmed by the appearance of fingerprint region of mannuronic acid at 812 cm−1 in attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra. The cytocompatibility of the nanofibrous scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was confirmed using MTT assay. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry for type 2 COLLAGEN marker were conducted to confirm the chondrogenic differentiation of seeded MSCs on the surface of scaffolds. The expression of type 2 COLLAGEN by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry analyses confirmed the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. Our results showed that sulfated alginate surface-modified PCL nanofibrous scaffold as an appropriate substrate for cell attachment and growth could promote the MSCs differentiate to chondrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) irradiation has a sterilizing effect without thermal denaturation or the production of residual substances. Hence, it is considered to be a safe sterilization technology with minimal damage for fresh foods. In addition, its decomposition effect on chemical substances has also been confirmed, and the application of CAP in the food and agricultural domains is increasing. In this study, we examined the potential of CAP to detoxify pesticide residues. Post-harvest chemical treatments using pesticides, such as fungicides, are frequently employed in imported agricultural products and are often disapproved by consumers. Therefore, we assessed the detoxification of thiabendazole (TBZ), a widely used post-harvest pesticide, using low-cost air plasma irradiation. We found that CAP irradiation conditions that detoxified TBZ caused little damage to the edible parts of mandarin oranges. The results of the present study suggest that CAP irradiation is useful for detoxifying and degrading pesticide residues without damaging agricultural products and that CAP irradiation is an effective means of maintaining food safety. • Effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on thiabendazole (TBZ) were examined. • Detoxification of TBZ was evaluated by a bioassay using yeast cells and mold growth. • CAP irradiation efficiently detoxified TBZ in the medium and on the orange surface. • CAP irradiation did not cause any noticeable deterioration of orange quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in cancer morbidity and mortality, the search for new, complementary, and less invasive tumor therapies with fewer side effects is still the focus of the current work. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is an ionized gas produced at atmospheric pressure that is a promising tumor treatment due to its ability to selectively induce cancer cell apoptosis. This review aims to summarize the sources, equipment, mechanism, treatment methods, and combinations of CAP with other treatments. The perspectives and challenges of CAP for tumor treatment, particularly the prospects and challenges of clinical applications, are discussed. • Summarized the sources and equipment of Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) and the mechanism of its action. • The advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect CAP therapy were discussed. • Discussed the application, perspectives, and challenges of CAP for tumor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Achieving stable adhesion between fiber post and interradicular dentin is a challenging process in the restoration of endodontically treated teeth. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of surface pretreatment with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on improving the bond strength between them. Materials and methods: Forty‐eight single‐canal mandibular premolars were cut 1 mm above the cementoenamel junction to keep the root length of 14 mm or more. After endodontic treatment and preparation of the post space, the teeth were divided into four groups regarding the pretreatment of dentin surfaces, including normal saline, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), CAP, and CAP + EDTA groups. The data were analyzed using paired and independent t‐test and one‐way analysis of variance and the significance level was set at p <.05. Results: The bond strength was significantly higher in the coronal third than in the apical third in all the groups. Moreover, the bond strength was significantly higher in the CAP + EDTA‐treated group. The bond strength increased significantly in the CAP group compared to the normal saline group. In addition, the bond strength increased significantly in the CAP or EDTA groups compared to the control group. The lowest bond strength belonged to the control group (normal saline). Conclusion: The surface pretreatment with CAP (alone or in combination with EDTA) played a significant role in improving the bond strength of fiber post and root canal dentin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]