Transferred Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment on Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells with/without Catalase Enzyme In Vitro

Trehalose enhanced cold atmospheric plasma-mediated cancer treatment

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a unique form of physical plasma that has shown great potential for cancer therapy. CAP uses ionized gas to induce lethal oxidative stress on cancer cells; however, the efficacy of CAP therapy continues to be improved. Here, we report an injectable hydrogel-mediated approach to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of CAP by regulating the phosphorylation of eIF2α. We discovered that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), two main anti-tumor components in CAP, can lead to lethal oxidative stress on tumor cells. Elevated oxidative stress subsequently induces eIF2α phosphorylation, a pathognomonic marker of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Trehalose, a natural disaccharide sugar, can further enhance CAP-induced ICD by elevating the phosphorylation of eIF2α. Moreover, injectable hydrogel-mediated delivery of CAP/trehalose treatment promoted dendritic cell (DC) maturation, initiating tumor-specific T-cell mediated anti-tumor immune responses. The combination therapy also supported the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages to an M1-like phenotype, reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and promoting tumor antigen presentation to T cells. In combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (i.e., anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibody, aPD1), CAP/trehalose therapy further inhibited tumor growth. Importantly, our findings also indicated that this hydrogel-mediated local combination therapy engaged the host systemic innate and adaptive immune systems to impair the growth of distant tumors.

Gas plasmas technology: from biomolecule redox research to medical therapy

Physical plasma is one consequence of gas ionization, i.e. its dissociation of electrons and ions. If operated in ambient air containing oxygen and nitrogen, its high reactivity produces various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) simultaneously. Technology leap innovations in the early 2010s facilitated the generation of gas plasmas aimed at clinics and operated at body temperature, enabling their potential use in medicine. In parallel, their high potency as antimicrobial agents was systematically discovered. In combination with first successful clinical trials, this led in 2013 to the clinical approval of first medical gas plasma devices in Europe for promoting the healing of chronic and infected wounds and ulcers in dermatology. While since then, thousands of patients have benefited from medical gas plasma therapy, only the appreciation of the critical role of gas plasma-derived RONS led to unraveling first fragments of the mechanistic basics of gas plasma-mediated biomedical effects. However, drawing the complete picture of effectors and effects is still challenging. This is because gas plasma-produced RONS not only show a great variety of dozens of types but also each of them having distinct spatio-temporal concentration profiles due to their specific half-lives and reactivity with other types of RONS as well as different types of (bio) molecules they can react with. However, this makes gas plasmas fascinating and highly versatile tools for biomolecular redox research, especially considering that the technical capacity of increasing and decreasing individual RONS types holds excellent potential for tailoring gas plasmas toward specific applications and disease therapies.

Plasma-Derived Nanoclusters for Site-Specific Multimodality Photo/Magnetic Thrombus Theranostics

Traditional thrombolytic therapeutics for vascular blockage are affected by their limited penetration into thrombi, associated off-target side effects, and low bioavailability, leading to insufficient thrombolytic efficacy. It is hypothesized that these limitations can be overcome by the precisely controlled and targeted delivery of thrombolytic therapeutics. A theranostic platform is developed that is biocompatible, fluorescent, magnetic, and well-characterized, with multiple targeting modes. This multimodal theranostic system can be remotely visualized and magnetically guided toward thrombi, noninvasively irradiated by near-infrared (NIR) phototherapies, and remotely activated by actuated magnets for additional mechanical therapy. Magnetic guidance can also improve the penetration of nanomedicines into thrombi. In a mouse model of thrombosis, the thrombosis residues are reduced by ≈80% and with no risk of side effects or of secondary embolization. This strategy not only enables the progression of thrombolysis but also accelerates the lysis rate, thereby facilitating its prospective use in time-critical thrombolytic treatment.

Collagen Hydrolysate from the Scales of Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) Improve Hair and Skin Health by Alleviating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation and Promoting Hair Growth and Extracellular Matrix Factors

Fish-derived collagen hydrolysate (CH) has shown promise in improving hair and skin health. Therefore, this study sought to comprehensively assess the effects of CH extracted from Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) scales on hair and skin using in vitro and in vivo models. Human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) were used for antioxidant and gene expression analyses, while C57BL/6 mice were orally administered CH for six weeks to assess hair growth patterns. The mice were divided into four groups: negative control (NC; distilled water), positive control (PC; 1 mg/kg finasteride), CH500 (500 mg/kg BW CH), and CH1000 (1000 mg/kg BW CH). CH mitigated catalase activity reduction in hDPCs, increased IGF-1 and VEGF levels, and decreased TGF-β1, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression. In vivo, CH treatment improved hair growth index, length, diameter, weight, and density. Scanning electron microscopy revealed reduced hair damage. Moreover, CH up-regulated IGF-1, VEGF, Elastin, and HAS2 mRNA expression while down-regulating TNF-α and IL-1β. CH enhanced hair shine, growth, and skin health while alleviating inflammation. These findings demonstrate the potential of CH in alleviating oxidative stress, promoting hair growth, and enhancing skin health, both in vitro and in vivo. Fish-derived CH offers a cost-effective and bioavailable option for improving hair and skin health.

The Applications of Plasma Techniques II

This Special Issue “The Applications of Plasma Techniques II” in the section “Optics and Lasers” of the journal Applied Sciences is intended to provide a description of devices and processes related to plasma applications in the broad sense [...]