Dose- and Time-Dependent Cellular Effects of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Evaluated in 3D Skin Models.
BACKGROUND
Application of cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPs) in or on the human body was termed 'plasma medicine'. So far, plasmas were utilized for sterilization of implants, other heat-sensitive products, or employed for chemical surface modifications. By now, CAPs are further used effectively for wound treatment. The present study analyses the effect of a plasma jet with air or nitrogen as process gas, previously evaluated for antimicrobial efficacy, on human cells using a 3D skin model.


METHODS
CAP treatment of 3D skin models consisting of a keratinocyte-containing epidermal layer and a fibroblast/collagen dermal matrix was performed using the Tigres plasma MEF technology. To evaluate the effects on the 3D skin models, the following plasma parameters were varied: process gas, input power, and treatment time.


RESULTS
Low CAP doses exhibited good cell compatibility. Increasing input power or elongating treatment intervals led to detrimental effects on 3D skin model morphology as well as to release of inflammatory cytokines. It was further observed that air as process gas was more damaging compared to nitrogen.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of 3D skin models with the plasma MEF nozzle using air or nitrogen is reported. A clearly dose- and time-dependent effect of CAPs could be observed in which the CAP based on nitrogen exhibited higher cell compatibility than the CAP generated from air. These settings might be recommended for medical in vivo applications such as wound decontamination.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany.
Cornelia
C
Wiegand
Sarah
S
Fink
Oliver
O
Beier
Kerstin
K
Horn
Andreas
A
Pfuch
Arnd
A
Schimanski
Bernd
B
Grünler
Uta-Christina
UC
Hipler
Peter
P
Elsner
D000388:Air; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes; D009584:Nitrogen; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D058626:Plasma Gases; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D016207:Cytokines; D058626:Plasma Gases; D003094:Collagen; D009584:Nitrogen