The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is one of the world's leading centres for plasma medicine. Physicists, biochemists, biologists, physicians and pharmacists work under one roof to investigate the interactions between physical plasmas and cells. This interdisciplinary basic research has led to the development of plasma applications that are significant for the healthcare of the future. For example, the PlasmaJet kINPen® MED, launched on the market in 2013 by a spin-off of the institute, is successfully used in numerous clinics to treat chronic wounds, which affect up to four million people in Germany.
The scientific evidence for plasma medicine has now been confirmed once again by INP researchers. The article "Nrf2 signaling and inflammation are key events in physical plasma-spurred wound healing," published in the international journal "Theranostics," serves to further elucidate important molecular mechanisms of plasma-assisted wound healing.
In a preclinical study conducted in collaboration with Rostock University Medical Centre, the scientists were able to show that treatment with cold atmospheric pressure plasma initially accelerates the healing process of acute skin wounds. The investigations highlighted the importance of two key factors for the effectiveness of plasma in living tissue: the molecule Nrf2, which is important for cellular redox homeostasis and can trigger the activation of protective genes, and the protein p53, which plays a crucial role in regulating the cell cycle. In addition, the experts demonstrated another important effect in the study: the antioxidant and inflammation-modulating processes influenced by plasma lead to a strong immune response in the body. Early migration of phagocytes, macrophages and neutrophil granulocytes, a subtype of white blood cells, to the wound area was observed. The study supports the hypothesis that physical plasma primarily influences redox-based cellular processes that are important for controlling physiological wound healing.
The results could pave the way for even more effective treatment of diabetic wounds. Such non-healing wounds are associated with high costs and cause serious economic damage due to long-term absences from work.
The basic plasma medicine research at INP is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (FKZ 03Z22DN11 & 12).
Scientific contact:
Dr. Anke Schmidt
Abteilung Plasma Life Science
Tel.: +49 3834 554 3958
E-Mail:
anke.schmidt@inp-greifswald.de
original publication:
Anke Schmidt, Thomas von Woedtke, Brigitte Vollmar, Sybille Hasse, Sander Bekeschus (2019). Nrf2 signaling and inflammation are key events in physical plasma-spurred wound healing. Theranostics Vol. 9, Issue 4, 1066-1084.
doi:10.7150/thno.29754.
