title: Unraveling the interactions between cold atmospheric plasma and skin-components with vibrational microspectroscopy.
abstract: Using infrared and Raman microspectroscopy, the authors examined the interaction of cold atmospheric plasma with the skin's built-in protective cushion, the outermost skin layer stratum corneum. Following a spectroscopic analysis, the authors could identify four prominent chemical alterations caused by plasma treatment: (1) oxidation of disulfide bonds in keratin leading to a generation of cysteic acid; (2) formation of organic nitrates as well as (3) of new carbonyl groups like ketones, aldehydes and acids; and (4) reduction of double bonds in the lipid matter lanolin, which resembles human sebum. The authors suggest that these generated acidic and NO-containing functional groups are the source of an antibacterial and regenerative environment at the treatment location of the stratum corneum. Based upon the author's results, the authors propose a mechanistic view of how cold atmospheric plasmas could modulate the skin chemistry to produce positive long-term effects on wound healing: briefly, cold atmospheric plasmas have the potential to transform the skin itself into a therapeutic resource.
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kartaschew
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mischo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldus
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bründermann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Electrical Engineering and Plasma Technology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Awakowicz
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Havenith
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D006801:Humans; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases