Decolonisation of <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>E. coli</i> using the FlatPlaSter plasma device.

<p>Cold atmospheric plasma treatment of (<b>A</b>) <i>S. aureus</i> (10^6–7/ml) (D-value = 3.7 min) and (<b>B</b>) <i>E. coli</i> (10^6–7/ml) (D-value = 3.71 min) applied to <i>ex vivo</i> skin using the FlatPlaSter device. Different plasma treatment times were tested [sec]. A CFU assay was performed immediately after the plasma treatment. Black dotted line: baseline of viable bacteria per ml; red dotted line: reduction of three log₁₀ steps of viable bacteria (99.9%); green dotted line: reduction of five log₁₀ steps of viable bacteria (99.999%). (<i>n</i> = 6, median ± interquartile range).</p

Schematic image of the FlatPlaSter plasma device.

<p>a) The FlatPlaSter contains one SMD electrode and the samples (to treat) are placed inside the device below the electrode. In this study the distance between the electrode and the sample surface was fixed at 6 mm. b) left: The plasma discharge is shown. On the mesh-side of the electrode, the SMD plasma was produced. c) right: The spectrum of the SMD plasma observed in front of the electrode with a distance of 6 mm is shown. The UV components in the range between 280–400 nm are mainly produced from nitrogen molecules excited by electrons.</p

Decolonisation of MRSA using the FlatPlaSter plasma device.

<p>Cold atmospheric plasma treatment of MRSA (BAA-44) (10^6–7/ml) applied to <i>ex vivo</i> skin using the FlatPlaSter device. Different plasma treatment times were tested [min]. A CFU assay was performed immediately after the plasma treatment. Black dotted line: baseline of viable bacteria per ml; red dotted line: reduction of three log₁₀ steps of viable bacteria (99.9%); green dotted line: reduction of five log₁₀ steps of viable bacteria (99.999%). (<i>n</i> = 6, median ± interquartile range).</p

Schematic image of the miniFlatPlaSter plasma device.

<p>The portable plasma device is equipped with a high voltage power supply, accumulators, and a surface micro-discharge (SMD) electrode. The SMD electrode consists of a copper foil layer (around 0.2 mm thick), an Epoxy board (1 mm thick), and a stainless steel mesh of 28 mm in diameter. The plasma device was fixed above the <i>ex vivo</i> skin embedded in Hepes-Agar.</p

Cold Atmospheric Plasma: A Promising Complementary Therapy for Squamous Head and Neck Cancer

<div><p>Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is the 7^th most common cancer worldwide. Despite the development of new therapeutic agents such as monoclonal antibodies, prognosis did not change for the last decades. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) presents the most promising new technology in cancer treatment. In this study the efficacy of a surface micro discharging (SMD) plasma device against two head and neck cancer cell lines was proved. Effects on the cell viability, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis induction were evaluated with the MTT assay, alkaline microgel electrophoresis (comet assay) and Annexin-V/PI staining. MTT assay revealed that the CAP treatment markedly decreases the cell viability for all tested treatment times (30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 s). IC 50 was reached within maximal 120 seconds of CAP treatment. Comet assay analysis showed a dose dependent high DNA fragmentation being one of the key players in anti-cancer activity of CAP. Annexin-V/PI staining revealed induction of apoptosis in CAP treated HNSCC cell lines but no significant dose dependency was seen. Thus, we confirmed that SMD Plasma technology is definitely a promising new approach on cancer treatment.</p></div

Apoptotic OSC-19 cells after different CAP treatment times.

<p>Apoptotic OSC-19 cells after different CAP treatment times.</p

Comet assay images after DNA-staining with ethidium bromide.

<p><b>A</b> Undamaged OSC-19 cell with intact DNA and no migration. DNA fragmentation leads to a faster and further migration into the electric field, which results in a figure shaped like a comet with undamaged DNA in the head and damaged DNA in the tail (<b>B+C</b>). The brighter and longer the tail, the higher the level of DNA fragmentation. <b>B</b> OSC-19 cell with a moderate CAP induced DNA-damage. <b>C</b> Representative image of high DNA-fragmentation.</p

Standard box-plot of apoptotic cells for FaDu cell line after different CAP treatment times.

<p>Standard box-plot of apoptotic cells for FaDu cell line after different CAP treatment times.</p

Annexin V/PI Staining of HNSCC cells.

<p>Results obtained by fluorescence microscopy show that early apoptotic cells have bound Annexin-FITC to the phosphatidylserin on the membrane surface (green cell). As apoptosis progressed, the plasma membrane integrity gets lost, and the propidium iodide is able to bind to nucleotid DNA, so that late apoptotic or necrotic cells appear in red.</p

Experimental setup for CAP treatment of the HNSCC cell lines OSC-19 and FaDu.

<p>Experimental setup for CAP treatment of the HNSCC cell lines OSC-19 and FaDu.</p