Abstract

The plasma is one of the four states of matter, the most widespread form of matter present in the universe (>99%). Plasma can be artificially generated by heating or subjecting a neutral gas to a strong electromagnetic field. It has been decades since began the clinical use of thermal plasma, in which plasma is applied for cauterization as well as blood coagulation. Almost 10 “hot” plasma sources are currently in use in surgery in different hospitals worldwide. During the last 20 years, with the development in the generation of plasma with low temperature, most plasma applications in the medicine industry were demonstrated for wound healing and cancer treatment. Almost three CE certified plasma sources are todays used in the hospitals for this purpose. Some important milestones were reached during these last years and a nascent field of study known today as “Plasma Medicine” was gradually formed: direct interaction between plasma and biological tissues, cells, and organs. All reported literature attests that the synergy between the plasma and liquid is critical to understanding the outcome of plasma treatment and envision targeted breakthrough in medical therapeutic approaches. The therapeutic use of Plasma Treated Water Solutions (PTWS) is the investigation object of an emerging field known as “Plasma Pharmacy”. In the oncology and neurologic field PALM can be used for harnessing the therapeutic effects of oxidant species against cancer cells or for promoting certain behaviors of Central Nervous System. The investigation of the effect of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen species (RONS) produced in a liquid of biological interest through the plasma, on the survival of tumor cells and their role in promoting Immunological Cell Death (ICD) will be described during the seminar. In this study, the separate contribution of ROS and RNS to the anti-cancer effects of plasma conditioned liquids has been investigated thank to a DBD source designed by E. Sardella, in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), which operates in a closed chamber and a controlled gas environment. In particular it will be highlighted the role of NO in these modified liquids since NO is involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover in this seminar will be shown the ability of PTWS containing a balanced level of ROS and RNS to affect primary astrocytes growth, as well as to significantly ameliorate wound healing.