Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), in collaboration with Greifswald University Hospital and University Medical Center Rostock, have demonstrated that cold plasma can effectively combat tumor cells even in deeper layers of tissue. Their groundbreaking findings, published in Trends in Biotechnology, mark a significant step forward in plasma medicine.
Understanding Cold Plasma
Plasma is an ionized gas that generates numerous reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). These short-lived molecules strongly influence biological processes, including the growth or destruction of tumor cells.
“The effect of plasma in tissue is very complex and little understood,” explained Lea Miebach, first author of the study. “We therefore developed a 3D hydrogel model that mimics real tumor tissue. In this model, we observed exactly how deep plasma molecules penetrate—and identified which molecules are crucial in affecting tumor cells.”
Key Discoveries in Plasma Action
As reported by medicalxpress, the team discovered that short-lived molecules such as peroxynitrite could penetrate several millimeters deep into tissue. In contrast, hydrogen peroxide, once thought to be the main active component, had little effect. Even when hydrogen peroxide was removed, the plasma’s anti-tumor effect remained strong.
Testing Plasma in Surgical Models
Researchers also tested plasma in a model simulating tumor surgery follow-up treatment. They treated residual tumor cells at the edge of an artificial surgical wound with plasma. The results were striking: plasma proved especially effective against cells that had already spread into surrounding tissue. These findings suggest that plasma treatment could play a vital role in preventing relapses after surgery.
Towards Precision Plasma Medicine
“Our results could significantly improve the medical application of plasma,” said Prof. Dr. Sander Bekeschus, head of the Plasma Medicine research program at INP. “The better we understand which molecules are active in tissue, the more precisely plasma devices can be used for specific types of cancer.”
The research was conducted using the kINPen, a medically approved plasma jet. In the long run, this approach could lead to gentler, more effective therapies for cancer patients by directly targeting tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue.