Effect of direct cold atmospheric plasma (diCAP) on microcirculation of intact skin in a controlled mechanical environment |
| |
| Authors: | Thomas Borchardt Jennifer Ernst Andreas Helmke Murat Tanyeli Arndt F. Schilling Gunther Felmerer Wolfgang Viöl |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Sciences and Technology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Goettingen, Germany;2. Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg‐August‐University, Goettingen, Germany;3. Application Center for Plasma and Photonic, Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, Goettingen, Germany;4. Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg‐August‐University, Goettingen, Germany |
| |
| Abstract: | Objective The microcirculatory response of intact human skin to exposure with diCAP for different durations with a focus on the effect of implied mechanical pressure during plasma treatment was investigated. Methods Local relative hemoglobin, blood flow velocity, tissue oxygen saturation, and blood flow were monitored noninvasively for up to 1 hour in 1‐2 mm depth by optical techniques, as well as temperature, pH values, and moisture before and after skin stimulation. The experimental protocol (N = 10) was set up to differentiate between pressure‐ and plasma‐induced effects. Results Significant increases in microcirculation were only observed after plasma stimulation but not after pressure stimulus alone. For a period of 1 h after stimulation, local relative hemoglobin was increased by 5.1% after 270 seconds diCAP treatment. Tissue oxygen saturation increased by up to 9.4%, whereas blood flow was doubled (+106%). Skin pH decreased by 0.3 after 180 seconds and 270 seconds diCAP treatment, whereas skin temperature and moisture were not affected. Conclusions diCAP treatment of intact skin notably enhances microcirculation for a therapeutically relevant period. This effect is specific to the plasma treatment and not an effect of the applied pressure. Prolonged treatment durations lead to more pronounced effects. |
| |
| Keywords: | blood flow cold atmospheric plasma hemoglobin microcirculation plasma medicine skin tissue oxygen saturation transcutaneous oxygen pressure wound healing wounds |
|
|
