Surface treatment with non-thermal humid argon plasma as a treatment for allergic contact dermatitis in a mouse model

Abstract

Cold plasma generated at atmospheric pressure has attracted intense interest in biomedical applications, particularly as an antimicrobial treatment. Here we report the therapeutic effect of humidified cold argon plasma on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in a mouse model. Treatment was carried out with different gas compositions: argon gas containing small amounts of either N2, O2, or H2O. The best effect was obtained using humid plasma (H2O addition), where the ACD symptoms decreased after one or two 1-min plasma treatments. Even for severe ACD with ulcers and crust formation, the humid plasma-treated mice recovered faster than the control group. Histopathological analysis by H&E-staining showed enhanced epithelialization with formation of collagen and hair follicles in the affected skin after humid plasma exposure. The therapeutic ability of the humid argon plasma discharge was proposed to be induced by reactive oxygen species (HxOy) transported from the discharge zone, which are adhesive and accumulate on the skin surface, penetrating the subcutis to eliminate inflammation. However, in treatments using plasma with addition of oxygen or nitrogen (without water) the active gaseous species are blocked due to poor adhesion to and penetration into the dry ACD skin, with correspondingly poor treatment effects. The enhanced in vivo healing in ACD mice indicate the non-thermal humid plasma could be a potential alternative approach for therapy of ACD and other inflammatory skin diseases.

Applications of Plasma-Activated Water in Dentistry: A Review

“…Studies on skin inflammatory diseases such as allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis have shown anti-inflammatory effects of non-thermal plasma [134][135][136]. These effects have also been observed in oral studies.…”

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in dermal papilla cells

“…Recently, NTAPP has been studied for its beneficial effects such as proliferation, angiogenesis, maintaining the stem cell characteristics, and promoting wound healing 8 – 12 , 30 . Furthermore, therapeutic evidences in pre-clinical models of inflammatory skin disease have been also reported 31 – 33 . However, the effect of NTAPP on hair growth or regeneration still remains unknown.…”

Plasma Dermatology: Skin Therapy Using Cold Atmospheric Plasma

“…Firstly, using a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), Xiong et al. found that humidified CAP is better than oxygen or nitrogen plasma when treating mild and severe ACD ( 62 ). This was mainly because active species delivered by water-containing argon plasma became adhesive to the dry skin of ACD leading to good penetration of ROS.…”