Characterization of a non‐thermally operated electrosurgical argon plasma source by electron spin resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

Non‐thermal plasma treatment is one of the promising options for local anti‐neoplastic treatment of dysplastic lesions and early intraepithelial cancer. Primarily, the antiproliferative properties are driven through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. In this study, we investigated the amount and distribution of reactive species generated by a non‐thermally operated electrosurgical argon plasma source using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. During the plasma treatment of both, aqueous solution and solid human preputial tissue an increasing amount of different oxygen‐ and carbon‐centered radicals was detected. However, and most probably due to spin trap degradation by the high energy input and the increase of reactive components in aqueous solution, the ESR signal decreased after treatment times exceeding 10 s.

Trans-Mucosal Efficacy of Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment on Cervical Cancer Tissue and Human Cervix Uteri by a Next Generation Electrosurgical Argon Plasma Device

“…Human mucosa is the main target tissue for future plasma-based treatment procedures of many chronic inflammatory, precancerous and cancerous diseases [33]. In previous work, we characterized the principal ability of electrosurgical argon plasma sources to perform non-thermal plasma treatment of human tissue, referred to as NIPP [11]. In this study, we demonstrated that dynamic tissue treatment by a next generation electrosurgical plasma source (VIO ® 3, APC 3) was not associated with potentially tissue harming surface temperatures (Figure 4).…”

“…Thus, the investment and operation costs for these devices are relatively high. Similar to conventional CAP devices, the plasma effluent of non-thermally operated electrosurgical argon plasma sources contains diverse biologically reactive factors (charged particles and molecules, free radicals, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation) [11]. Commonly used electrosurgical argon plasma sources are devices for high-frequency (HF)-based surgery.…”

“…The argon plasma corridor thereby follows the way of lowest electrical resistance. The thermal effect is directly proportional to the electrical resistance of tissue and the square of amperage and can be avoided by using low energies and performing continuous motion of the plasma probe [11]. However, usually inducing thermal tissue effects, the ignited argon plasma of next generation electrosurgical argon plasma sources, as utilized in this study, is discussed to comprise lower energy per plasma particle as well as to combine characteristics of cold, non-equilibrium plasma, since thermal equilibrium within the plasma would require multiple actually used currents [14][15][16][17].…”

“…However, usually inducing thermal tissue effects, the ignited argon plasma of next generation electrosurgical argon plasma sources, as utilized in this study, is discussed to comprise lower energy per plasma particle as well as to combine characteristics of cold, non-equilibrium plasma, since thermal equilibrium within the plasma would require multiple actually used currents [14][15][16][17]. Due to the divergent principle of non-thermal plasma generation by electrosurgical argon plasma devices, we use the term non-invasive physical plasma (NIPP) treatment.Local NIPP treatment is a promising therapeutic procedure for various chronic inflammatory and neoplastic diseases of human mucosa, such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), where current treatment strategies are highly invasive, painful and associated with serious short-and long-term side effects and risks, especially during pregnancy [18][19][20][21][22][23][24].Very few in vitro studies have investigated the effects on cancer cells and tissue penetration during NIPP treatment on human mucosa [11,25]. Previously, our group showed the feasibility of non-thermal treatment on human tissue using electrosurgical argon plasma to significantly increase the potential of generating free radicals.…”

“…Very few in vitro studies have investigated the effects on cancer cells and tissue penetration during NIPP treatment on human mucosa [11,25]. Previously, our group showed the feasibility of non-thermal treatment on human tissue using electrosurgical argon plasma to significantly increase the potential of generating free radicals.…”