Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Item
    Cold argon plasma as adjuvant tumour therapy on progressive head and neck cancer: A preclinical study
    (Basel : MDPI, 2019) Hasse, Sybille; Seebauer, Christian; Wende, Kristian; Schmidt, Anke; Metelmann, Hans-Robert; Woedtke, Thomas von; Bekeschus, Sander
    Investigating cold argon plasma (CAP) for medical applications is a rapidly growing, innovative field of research. The controllable supply of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species through CAP has the potential for utilization in tumour treatment. Maxillofacial surgery is limited if tumours grow on vital structures such as the arteria carotis. Here CAP could be considered as an option for adjuvant intraoperative tumour therapy especially in the case of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Further preclinical research is necessary to investigate the efficacy of this technology for future clinical applications in cancer treatment. Initially, a variety of in vitro assays was performed on two cell lines that served as surrogate for the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and healthy tissue, respectively. Cell viability, motility and the activation of apoptosis in SCC cells (HNO97) was compared with those in normal HaCaT keratinocytes. In addition, induction of apoptosis in ex vivo CAP treated human tissue biopsies of patients with tumours of the head and neck was monitored and compared to healthy control tissue of the same patient. In response to CAP treatment, normal HaCaT keratinocytes differed significantly from their malignant counterpart HNO97 cells in cell motility only whereas cell viability remained similar. Moreover, CAP treatment of tumour tissue induced more apoptotic cells than in healthy tissue that was accompanied by elevated extracellular cytochrome c levels. This study promotes a future role of CAP as an adjuvant intraoperative tumour therapy option in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Moreover, patient-derived tissue explants complement in vitro examinations in a meaningful way to reflect an antitumoral role of CAP. © 2019 by the authors.
  • Item
    Platelets are key in cold physical plasma-facilitated blood coagulation in mice
    (Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2017) Bekeschus, Sander; Brüggemeier, Janik; Hackbarth, Christine; Woedtke, Thomas von; Partecke, Lars-Ivo; van der Linde, Julia
    Purpose: Surgical interventions inevitably lead to destruction of blood vessels. This is especially dangerous in anticoagulated patients. Electrocauterization is a frequently used technique to seal incised tissue. However, leading to a superficial layer of necrotic tissue, the treated area evolves a high vulnerability to contact, making it prone to detachment. As a result, dangerous postoperative bleeding may occur. Cold physical plasma was previously suggested as a pro-coagulant treatment method. It mainly acts by expelling a delicate mixture of oxidants. We therefore tested the suitability of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (kINPen MED) as a new medical device for sufficient blood coagulation in a murine model of liver incision. Methods: Plasma treatment of murine blood ex vivo induced sufficient coagula. This effect did not affect any tested parameter of plasmatic coagulation cascade, suggesting the mechanism to be related to cellular coagulation. Indeed, isolated platelets were significantly activated following exposure to plasma, although this effect was less pronounced in whole blood. To analyze the biological effect of plasma-on blood coagulation in vivo, mice were anticoagulated (clopidogrel inhibiting cellular and rivaroxaban inhibiting plasmatic hemostasis) or received vehicle only. Afterwards, a partial resection of the left lateral liver lobe was performed. The quantification of the blood loss after liver incision followed by treatment with kINPen MED plasma or electrocauterization revealed a similar and significant hemostatic performance in native and rivaroxaban but not clopidogrel-treated animals compared to argon gas-treated controls. In contrast to electrocauterization, kINPen MED plasma treatment did not cause necrotic cell layers. Conclusion: Our results propose a prime importance of platelets in cold physical plasma-mediated hemostasis and suggest a clinical benefit of kINPen MED plasma treatment as coagulation device in liver surgery.
  • Item
    Can the effect of cold physical plasma-derived oxidants be transported via thiol group oxidation?
    (Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2019) Heusler, Thea; Bruno, Giuliana; Bekeschus, Sander; Lackmann, Jan-Wilm; Woedtke, Thomas von; Wende, Kristian
    Purpose: Intra- and intercellular redox-signaling processes where found responsible in various physiological and pathological processes with cellular thiol groups as important signal transducers. Using cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a similar oxidation pattern of thiol groups can be achieved. Hence, it must be clarified which role extracellular thiol groups play in mediating CAP effects and whether or not the effects of short-lived reactive species can be preserved in a molecule like cysteine. Methods: Physiological buffer solutions containing the amino acid cysteine were treated by an MHz argon plasma jet with molecular gas admixtures (kINPen) and transferred to cultured human keratinocytes. Cell proliferation, migratory activity, and metabolism were investigated. High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to estimate the impact of plasma generated species on thiol groups. Results: While treated physiologic cysteine concentrations showed no impact on cell behavior, artificially high concentrations decreased proliferation, migration and lactate secretion. GSH levels inside cells were stabilized. Conclusion: Extracellular thiol groups scavenge plasma-generated species and form a multitude of covalent modifications. Unexpectedly, human keratinocytes show only small functional consequences for treated physiologic cysteine concentrations. Results for high concentrated cysteine solutions indicate an improved cytostatic/cytotoxic impact by plasma treatment suggesting a potential application as a “preserving agent” of the chemical energy of plasma-derived species. © 2019 The Authors