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12 pages, 1153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jet Associated to Polyene Antifungals on Candida albicans Biofilms

by Lady Daiane Pereira Leite, Maria Alcionéia Carvalho de Oliveira, Mariana Raquel da Cruz Vegian, Aline da Graça Sampaio, Thalita Mayumi Castaldelli Nishime, Konstantin Georgiev Kostov and Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito

Molecules 2021, 26(19), 5815; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26195815 - 25 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2140

Abstract

The increasing incidence of antifungal resistance represents a great challenge in the medical area and, for this reason, new therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of fungal infections are urgently required. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been proposed as a promising alternative technique for [...] Read more.

The increasing incidence of antifungal resistance represents a great challenge in the medical area and, for this reason, new therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of fungal infections are urgently required. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been proposed as a promising alternative technique for the treatment of superficial candidiasis, with inhibitory effect both in vitro and in vivo. However, little is known on the association of CAP with conventional antifungals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the association between CAP and conventional polyene antifungals on Candida albicans biofilms. C. albicans SC 5314 and a clinical isolate were used to grow 24 or 48 h biofilms, under standardized conditions. After that, the biofilms were exposed to nystatin, amphotericin B and CAP, separately or in combination. Different concentrations of the antifungals and sequences of treatment were evaluated to establish the most effective protocol. Biofilms viability after the treatments was compared to negative control. Data were compared by One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey (5%). The results demonstrate that 5 min exposure to CAP showed more effective antifungal effect on biofilms when compared to nystatin and amphotericin B. Additionally, it was detected that CAP showed similar (but smaller in magnitude) effects when applied in association with nystatin and amphotericin B at 40 µg/mL and 60 µg/mL. Therefore, it can be concluded that the application of CAP alone was more effective against C. albicans biofilms than in combination with conventional polyene antifungal agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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15 pages, 2760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jet as a Possible Adjuvant Therapy for Periodontal Disease

by Gabriela de Morais Gouvêa Lima, Aline Chiodi Borges, Thalita Mayumi Castaldelli Nishime, Gabriela de Fatima Santana-Melo, Konstantin Georgiev Kostov, Marcia Pinto Alves Mayer and Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito

Molecules 2021, 26(18), 5590; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26185590 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2988

Abstract

Due to the limitations of traditional periodontal therapies, and reported cold atmospheric plasma anti-inflammatory/antimicrobial activities, plasma could be an adjuvant therapy to periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis was grown in blood agar. Standardized suspensions were plated on blood agar and plasma-treated for planktonic growth. For [...] Read more.

Due to the limitations of traditional periodontal therapies, and reported cold atmospheric plasma anti-inflammatory/antimicrobial activities, plasma could be an adjuvant therapy to periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis was grown in blood agar. Standardized suspensions were plated on blood agar and plasma-treated for planktonic growth. For biofilm, dual-species Streptococcus gordonii + P. gingivalis biofilm grew for 48 h and then was plasma-treated. XTT assay and CFU counting were performed. Cytotoxicity was accessed immediately or after 24 h. Plasma was applied for 1, 3, 5 or 7 min. In vivo: Thirty C57BI/6 mice were subject to experimental periodontitis for 11 days. Immediately after ligature removal, animals were plasma-treated for 5 min once—Group P1 (n = 10); twice (Day 11 and 13)—Group P2 (n = 10); or not treated—Group S (n = 10). Mice were euthanized on day 15. Histological and microtomography analyses were performed. Significance level was 5%. Halo diameter increased proportionally to time of exposure contrary to CFU/mL counting. Mean/SD of fibroblasts viability did not vary among the groups. Plasma was able to inhibit P. gingivalis in planktonic culture and biofilm in a cell-safe manner. Moreover, plasma treatment in vivo, for 5 min, tends to improve periodontal tissue recovery, proportionally to the number of plasma applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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16 pages, 4386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theoretical–Computational Study of Atmospheric DBD Plasma and Its Utility for Nanoscale Biocompatible Plasmonic Coating

by Taj Muhammad Khan, Shahab Ud-Din Khan, Muhammad Raffi and Riaz Khan

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 5106; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26165106 - 23 Aug 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2799

Abstract

In this study, time-dependent, one-dimensional modeling of a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) device, driven by a sinusoidal voltage of amplitude 1–3 kV at 20 kHz, in argon is described. An SDBD device with two Cu-stripe electrodes, covered by the quartz dielectric and [...] Read more.

In this study, time-dependent, one-dimensional modeling of a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) device, driven by a sinusoidal voltage of amplitude 1–3 kV at 20 kHz, in argon is described. An SDBD device with two Cu-stripe electrodes, covered by the quartz dielectric and with the discharge gap of 20 × 10⁻³ m, was assumed, and the time-dependent, one-dimensional discharge parameters were simulated versus time across the plasma gap. The plasma device simulated in the given arrangement was constructed and used for biocompatible antibacterial/antimicrobial coating of plasmonic particle aerosol and compared with the coating strategy of the DBD plasma jet. Simulation results showed discharge consists of an electrical breakdown, occurring in each half-cycle of the AC voltage with an electron density of 1.4 × 10¹⁰ cm⁻³ and electric field strength of 4.5 × 10⁵ Vm⁻¹. With SDBD, the surface coating comprises spatially distributed particles of mean size 29 (11) nm, while with argon plasma jet, the nanoparticles are aggregated in clusters that are three times larger in size. Both coatings are crystalline and exhibit plasmonic features in the visible spectral region. It is expected that the particle aerosols are collected under the ionic wind, induced by the plasma electric fields, and it is assumed that this follows the dominant charging mechanisms of ions diffusion. The cold plasma strategy is appealing in a sense; it opens new venues at the nanoscale to deal with biomedical and surgical devices in a flexible processing environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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27 pages, 11731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selective Apoptotic Effect of Plasma Activated Liquids on Human Cancer Cell Lines

by Dominika Sersenová, Zdenko Machala, Vanda Repiská and Helena Gbelcová

Molecules 2021, 26(14), 4254; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26144254 - 13 Jul 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3473

Abstract

Plasma medicine is a new field focusing on biomedical and clinical applications of cold gas plasmas, including their anticancer effects. Cold plasmas can be applied directly or indirectly as plasma-activated liquids (PAL). The effects of plasma-activated cell growth medium (PAM) and plasma-activated phosphate [...] Read more.

Plasma medicine is a new field focusing on biomedical and clinical applications of cold gas plasmas, including their anticancer effects. Cold plasmas can be applied directly or indirectly as plasma-activated liquids (PAL). The effects of plasma-activated cell growth medium (PAM) and plasma-activated phosphate buffered saline (PAPBS) were tested, using a plasma pen generating streamer corona discharge in ambient air, on different cancer cell lines (melanoma A375, glioblastoma LN229 and pancreatic cancer MiaPaCa-2) and normal cells (human dermal fibroblasts HDFa). The viability reduction and apoptosis induction were detected in all cancer cells after incubation in PAL. In melanoma cells we focused on detailed insights to the apoptotic pathways. The anticancer effects depend on the plasma treatment time or PAL concentration. The first 30 min of incubation in PAL were enough to start processes leading to cell death. In fibroblasts, no apoptosis induction was observed, and only PAPBS, activated for a longer time, slightly decreased their viability. Effects of PAM and PAPBS on cancer cells showed selectivity compared to normal fibroblasts, depending on correctly chosen activation time and PAL concentration, which is very promising for potential clinical applications. This selectivity effect of PAL is conceivably induced by plasma-generated hydrogen peroxide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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13 pages, 12014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Hollow Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge for Bacterial Biofilm Decontamination

by Zlata Kelar Tučeková, Lukáš Vacek, Richard Krumpolec, Jakub Kelar, Miroslav Zemánek, Mirko Černák and Filip Růžička

Molecules 2021, 26(4), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040910 - 9 Feb 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3542

Abstract

The plasma-activated gas is capable of decontaminating surfaces of different materials in remote distances. The effect of plasma-activated water vapor on Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli biofilm contamination was investigated on the polypropylene nonwoven textile [...] Read more.

The plasma-activated gas is capable of decontaminating surfaces of different materials in remote distances. The effect of plasma-activated water vapor on Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli biofilm contamination was investigated on the polypropylene nonwoven textile surface. The robust and technically simple multi-hollow surface dielectric barrier discharge was used as a low-temperature atmospheric plasma source to activate the water-based medium. The germicidal efficiency of short and long-time exposure to plasma-activated water vapor was evaluated by standard microbiological cultivation and fluorescence analysis using a fluorescence multiwell plate reader. The test was repeated in different distances of the contaminated polypropylene nonwoven sample from the surface of the plasma source. The detection of reactive species in plasma-activated gas flow and condensed activated vapor, and thermal and electrical properties of the used plasma source, were measured. The bacterial biofilm decontamination efficiency increased with the exposure time and the plasma source power input. The log reduction of viable biofilm units decreased with the increasing distance from the dielectric surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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Review

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16 pages, 8774 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cold Plasma Systems and Their Application in Surface Treatments for Medicine

by Francisco L. Tabares and Ita Junkar

Molecules 2021, 26(7), 1903; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26071903 - 28 Mar 2021

Cited by 79 | Viewed by 8663

Abstract

In this paper, a review of cold plasma setups and the physical and chemical processes leading to the generation of active species is presented. The emphasis is given to the interaction of cold plasmas with materials used in medical applications, especially medical implants [...] Read more.

In this paper, a review of cold plasma setups and the physical and chemical processes leading to the generation of active species is presented. The emphasis is given to the interaction of cold plasmas with materials used in medical applications, especially medical implants as well as live cells. An overview of the different kinds of plasmas and techniques used for generation of active species, which significantly alter the surface properties of biomaterials is presented. The elemental processes responsible for the observed changes in the physio-chemical properties of surfaces when exposed to plasma are described. Examples of ongoing research in the field are given to illustrate the state-of-the-art at the more conceptual level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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25 pages, 8529 KiB

Open AccessReview

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Surface Treatment of Polymers and Influence on Cell Cultivation

by Hilal Turkoglu Sasmazel, Marwa Alazzawi and Nabeel Kadim Abid Alsahib

Molecules 2021, 26(6), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061665 - 17 Mar 2021

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 7449

Abstract

Atmospheric plasma treatment is an effective and economical surface treatment technique. The main advantage of this technique is that the bulk properties of the material remain unchanged while the surface properties and biocompatibility are enhanced. Polymers are used in many biomedical applications; such [...] Read more.

Atmospheric plasma treatment is an effective and economical surface treatment technique. The main advantage of this technique is that the bulk properties of the material remain unchanged while the surface properties and biocompatibility are enhanced. Polymers are used in many biomedical applications; such as implants, because of their variable bulk properties. On the other hand, their surface properties are inadequate which demands certain surface treatments including atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. In biomedical applications, surface treatment is important to promote good cell adhesion, proliferation, and growth. This article aim is to give an overview of different atmospheric pressure plasma treatments of polymer surface, and their influence on cell-material interaction with different cell lines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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27 pages, 5486 KiB

Open AccessReview

Use of Plasma Technologies for Antibacterial Surface Properties of Metals

by Metka Benčina, Matic Resnik, Pia Starič and Ita Junkar

Molecules 2021, 26(5), 1418; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051418 - 5 Mar 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4616

Abstract

Bacterial infections of medical devices present severe problems connected with long-term antibiotic treatment, implant failure, and high hospital costs. Therefore, there are enormous demands for innovative techniques which would improve the surface properties of implantable materials. Plasma technologies present one of the compelling [...] Read more.

Bacterial infections of medical devices present severe problems connected with long-term antibiotic treatment, implant failure, and high hospital costs. Therefore, there are enormous demands for innovative techniques which would improve the surface properties of implantable materials. Plasma technologies present one of the compelling ways to improve metal’s antibacterial activity; plasma treatment can significantly alter metal surfaces’ physicochemical properties, such as surface chemistry, roughness, wettability, surface charge, and crystallinity, which all play an important role in the biological response of medical materials. Herein, the most common plasma treatment techniques like plasma spraying, plasma immersion ion implantation, plasma vapor deposition, and plasma electrolytic oxidation as well as novel approaches based on gaseous plasma treatment of surfaces are gathered and presented. The latest results of different surface modification approaches and their influence on metals’ antibacterial surface properties are presented and critically discussed. The mechanisms involved in bactericidal effects of plasma-treated surfaces are discussed and novel results of surface modification of metal materials by highly reactive oxygen plasma are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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16 pages, 1313 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Intracellular Responses Triggered by Cold Atmospheric Plasma and Plasma-Activated Media in Cancer Cells

by Helena Motaln, Nina Recek and Boris Rogelj

Molecules 2021, 26(5), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051336 - 2 Mar 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4017

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), an ionized gas operating at room temperature, has been increasingly studied with respect to its potential use in medicine, where its beneficial effects on tumor reduction in oncology have been demonstrated. This review discusses the cellular changes appearing in [...] Read more.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), an ionized gas operating at room temperature, has been increasingly studied with respect to its potential use in medicine, where its beneficial effects on tumor reduction in oncology have been demonstrated. This review discusses the cellular changes appearing in cell membranes, cytoplasm, various organelles, and DNA content upon cells’ direct or indirect exposure to CAP or CAP-activated media/solutions (PAM), respectively. In addition, the CAP/PAM impact on the main cellular processes of proliferation, migration, protein degradation and various forms of cell death is addressed, especially in light of CAP use in the oncology field of plasma medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Technologies and Their Medical Applications)

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