Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jun;8(6):2400339.
doi: 10.1002/adtp.202400339. Epub 2025 Mar 26.

Biomedical application of cold plasma: navigating through plasma types and devices by antimicrobial effectiveness and tissue tolerance

Thomas P Thompson  1 , Amanda Connelly  2 , Sean Kelly  3 , Ross M Duncan  1 , Jordanne-Amee Maybin  1 , Carla McDonnell  4 , Autumn Melvage  2 , Laura A McClenaghan  1 , Aikaterini Dedeloudi  1 , Dimitrios Lamprou  1 , Thomas P Schaer  5 , Paula Bourke  3 , Noreen J Hickok  2 , Brendan F Gilmore  1 , Theresa A Freeman  2
Affiliations

Biomedical application of cold plasma: navigating through plasma types and devices by antimicrobial effectiveness and tissue tolerance

Thomas P Thompson et al. Adv Ther (Weinh). 2025 Jun.

Abstract

This study compares the biofilm efficacy and tissue compatibility of three cold atmospheric plasma devices: J-Plasma (Apyx Medical), Piezo Brush PZ3 (Reylon Plasma GmbH), and Plasma Care (Terraplasma-Medical GmbH). We focused on surface temperature, pH shifts, and ROS/RNS production, analyzing their effects on bacterial biofilms and tissue both ex vivo and in vivo. We measured temperature changes, pH shifts, optical emission spectra, and ROS/RNS levels in the liquid phase. Antimicrobial efficacy was tested against biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, grown on 3D-printed poly(ε-caprolactone) discs and titanium sheets. Tissue tolerability was assessed on porcine skin using direct counting for bactericidal effectiveness and SEM for validation, with histological analysis for tissue effects. Plasma Care demonstrated significant bactericidal capabilities (4 logs against S. aureus in 60 seconds on PCL), minimal tissue disruption, and required short treatment times, functioning independently of target conductivity. Both J-Plasma and Piezo Brush PZ3 showed variable outcomes influenced by treatment duration and target surface conductivity, affecting both bactericidal activity and tissue tolerance. The comparative analysis underscores the importance of selecting plasma devices based on specific clinical needs to enhance biofilm management and minimize tissue damage, supporting tailored applications in precision medicine.

Keywords: Biofilms; Biomedical applications; Cold plasma; antimicrobial treatment; wound.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: Theresa Freeman is a paid consultant of Apyx Medical, Inc. Apyx Medical, Inc. had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

    1. Brun P, Brun P, Vono M, Venier P, Tarricone E, Deligianni V, Martines E, Zuin M, Spagnolo S, & Cavazzana R (2012). Disinfection of ocular cells and tissues by atmospheric-pressure cold plasma. Plos one, 7(3), e33245. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dryden M (2018). Reactive oxygen species: a novel antimicrobial. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 51(3), 299–303. - PubMed
    1. Ermolaeva SA, Varfolomeev AF, Chernukha MY, Yurov DS, Vasiliev MM, Kaminskaya AA, Moisenovich MM, Romanova JM, Murashev AN, & Selezneva II (2011). Bactericidal effects of non-thermal argon plasma in vitro, in biofilms and in the animal model of infected wounds. Journal of medical microbiology, 60(1), 75–83. - PubMed
    1. Faramarzi F, Zafari P, Alimohammadi M, Moonesi M, Rafiei A, & Bekeschus S (2021). Cold physical plasma in cancer therapy: mechanisms, signaling, and immunity. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2021.
    1. Fridman G, Brooks AD, Balasubramanian M, Fridman A, Gutsol A, Vasilets VN, Ayan H, & Friedman G (2007). Comparison of direct and indirect effects of non‐thermal atmospheric‐pressure plasma on bacteria. Plasma Processes and Polymers, 4(4), 370–375.

LinkOut - more resources