Background. Today, highly sophisticated devices deliver cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) with a multitude of bioactive properties, opening the window to a new medical field: plasma medicine. Different techniques to create the optimal plasma device for different medical indications are currently being explored. However, even a 100 years ago, CAPP was briefly used in the related form of high-frequency therapy. The objective of our study was to compare historic with modern techniques regarding antimicrobial efficacy. Methods. First, 26 different clinical isolates of relevant wound pathogens were treated in vitro with a historic violet wand (VW) and 2 modern plasma sources (kINPen 09 and dielectric barrier discharge [DBD]) and the obtained inhibition areas (IAs) were compared. Second, a biofilm model was used to compare biofilm inactivation by VW, DBD, ethanol, and polyhexanide treatment. Results. DBD with the largest electrode produced the largest IAs. VW showed results similar to 2 different modes of the kINPen 09. IAs of VW were enlargeable by attaching a larger electrode. Against biofilms, VW was less effective than DBD but more effective than ethanol 70% and polyhexanide. Conclusion. The proven antimicrobial efficacy of VW may encourage the development of new, potent plasma devices based on the very simple and inexpensive technique of the historic high-frequency apparatus.
BrandenburgREhlbeckJStieberM. Antimicrobial treatment of heat sensitive materials by means of atmospheric pressure rf-driven plasma jet. Contrib Plasma Phys. 2007;47:72-79.
2.
FridmanGBrooksADBalasubramanianM. Comparison of direct and indirect effect of non thermal atmospheric pressure plasma on bacteria. Plasma Process Polym. 2007;4:370-375.
3.
DaeschleinGvon WoedtkeTKindelE. Antibacterial activity of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet against relevant wound pathogens in vitro on a simulated wound environment. Plasma Process Polym. 2010;7:224-230.
4.
BrehmerFHaenssleHADaeschleinG. Alleviation of chronic venous leg ulcers with a hand-held dielectric barrier discharge plasma generator (PlasmaDerm® VU-2010): results of a monocentric, two-armed, open, prospective, randomized, and controlled trial (NCT01415622). J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29:148-155.
5.
IsbaryGMorfillGSchmidtHU. A first prospective randomized controlled trial to decrease bacterial load using cold atmospheric argon plasma on chronic wounds in patients. Br J Dermatol. 2010;163:78-82.
6.
IsbaryGHeinlinJShimizuT. Successful and safe use of 2 min cold atmospheric argon plasma in chronic wounds: results of a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2012;167:404-410.
7.
SchneeA. Kompendium der Hochfrequenz. Leipzig, Germany: Verlag Otto Nemrich; 1920.
8.
DaeschleinGScholzSArnoldA. In-vitro activity of atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) against clinical isolates ofDemodex folliculorum. IEEE Trans Plasma Sci IEEE Nucl Plasma Sci Soc. 2010;38:2969-2973.
9.
DaeschleinGScholzSvon WoedtkeT. In-vitro killing of clinical fungal strains by low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma (APPJ). IEEE Trans Plasma Sci IEEE Nucl Plasma Sci Soc. 2011;39:815-821.
10.
DaeschleinGScholzSArnoldA. In-vitro susceptibility of important skin and wound pathogens against low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD). Plasma Process Polym. 2012;9:380-389.
11.
DaeschleinGScholzSAhmedR. Cold plasma is well-tolerated and does not disturb skin barrier or reduce skin moisture. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2012;10:509-515.
12.
FridmanGFriedmanGGutsolA. Applied plasma medicine. Plasma Process Polym. 2008;5:503-533.
13.
LaroussiM. The biomedical applications of plasma: a brief history of the development of a new field of research. IEEE Trans Plasma Sci IEEE Nucl Plasma Sci Soc. 2008;36:1612-1614.
YousfiMBeksteinAMerbahiN. Basic data for atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma investigations in environmental and biomedical applications. Plasma Sources Sci Technol. 2010;19:034004.
WeltmannKDKindelEBrandenburgR. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet for medical therapy: plasma parameters and risk estimation. Contrib Plasma Phys. 2009;49:631-640.
18.
KuchenbeckerMBibinovNKaemlingA. Characterization of DBD plasma source for biomedical applications. J Phys D Appl Phys. 2009;42:045212.
19.
HelmkeAHoffmeisterDMertensN. Acidification of lipid film surfaces by non-thermal DBD at atmospheric pressure in air. New J Phys. 2009;11:115025.
20.
LaqueurA. Die Behandlung mit Hochfrequenzströmen. Med Klinik. 1911;49.
21.
NagelschmidtCF. Lehrbuch der Diathermie. Berl Klin Wochenschr. 1909;10.
22.
LaqueurA. Die therapeutische Anwendung der Hochfrequenzströme. Therapie Gegenwart. 1911;1.
23.
MannL. Die elektrische Behandlung der Neuralgien. Z Phys Diät Ther. 1913;9.
24.
KrausF. Leitfaden der Elektrotherapie. Wien-Berlin, Germany: Verlag Julius Springer; 1928.
25.
KahaneM. Über die Hochfrequenzströme und ihre Indikationen. Z Phys Diät Ther. 1911;9-12.
26.
BaedekerK. Die Arsonvalisation. Wien Klin. 1901;10/11.
27.
RivièreC. Die Elektrotherapie in der Behandlung der Tuberkulose. Zentralbl inn Med. 1909;45.
28.
HenselerH. Die Hochfrequenzbehandlung mit Hochleistungsapparaten in derärztlichen Praxis. Berlin, Germany: Radionta; 1930.
29.
TreibmannE. Ergebnisse der Hochfrequenzbehandlung. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1927;51:2168-2170.
30.
DaeschleinGNappMvon PodewilsS. In vitro susceptibility of multidrug resistant skin and wound pathogens against low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD). Plasma Process Polym. 2014;11:175-183.
31.
MorfillGEShimizuTSteffesB. Nosocomial infections: a new approach towards preventive medicine using plasmas. New J Phys. 2009;11:115019.
32.
DaeschleinGNappMLutzeS. Skin and wound decontamination of multidrug-resistant bacteria by cold atmospheric plasma coagulation. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2015;13:143-150.
33.
HeinlinJMorfillGLandthalerM. Plasma medicine: possible applications in dermatology. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2010;8:968-976.
34.
O’ConnorNCahillODanielsS. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma and decontamination: can it contribute to preventing hospital-acquired infections?J Hosp Infect. 2014;88:59-65.
35.
Mai-ProchnowAMurphyABMcLeanKM. Atmospheric pressure plasmas: infection control and bacterial responses. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2014;43:508-517.
36.
HeinlinJZimmermannJLZemanF. Randomized placebo-controlled human pilot study of cold atmospheric argon plasma on skin graft donor sites. Wound Repair Regen. 2013;21:800-807.
37.
ArndtSUngerPWackerE. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) changes gene expression of key molecules of the wound healing machinery and improves wound healing in vitro and in vivo. PLoS One. 2013;8:e79325.
38.
VandammeMRobertEPesnelS. Antitumor effect of plasma treatment on U87 glioma xenografts: preliminary results. Plasma Process Polym. 2010;7:264-273.
39.
VandammeMRobertELerondelS. ROS implication in a new antitumor strategy based on non-thermal plasma. Int J Cancer. 2012;130:2185-2194.
40.
KeidarMWalkRShashurinA. Cold plasma selectivity and the possibility of a paradigm shift in cancer therapy. Br J Cancer. 2011;105:1295-1301.
41.
GümbelDStopeMBNappM. Tissue tolerable plasma attenuates proliferation of human osteosarcoma cells U2-OS in-vitro. Paper presented at: XXVI SICOT Triennial World Congress combined with the 46th SBOT annual meeting; November 19-22, 2014; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
42.
DaeschleinGScholzSLutzeS. Comparison between cold plasma, electrochemotherapy and combined therapy in a melanoma mouse model. Exp Dermatol. 2013;22:582-586.
