WHAT IS PLASMA?

Plasma is known as the fourth state of matter, next to solid, The aim of therapeutic plasma application as the central field of Wound Healing with Plasma liquid or gaseous. Plasma is a (partially) ionized gas, which plasma medicine is to bring cold atmospheric pressure plasmas First projects have identified the substantial preconditions shows, as an electroconductive gas, a variety of interesting at- directly on or in the human or animal body. Central to all medical for a successful treatment of chronic wounds with atmos- tributes. 99% of all matter in the visible universe is in the state applications are the antimicrobial as well as cell and tissue alter- pheric pressure plasma. Our studies have shown the twofold of plasma, which can amongst others be found in the sun or ing effects of plasma, which make it very attractive for medical therapeutic effect of this tissue friendly plasma by both kill- stars. Next to this very hot plasma, cold atmospheric pressure purposes. With the help of plasma, the course of some diseases ing of bacteria and stimulating tissue regeneration. plasma can be generated artificially. This kind of plasma is could be considerably shortened or very extensive therapies could used in plasma medicine. be administered painlessly. The INP’s interdisciplinary, frontier re- Plasma in Dentistry search projects forge a bridge from the investigation of basic bio- In dentistry, plasma is a prom- logical effects of plasma to medical-experimental tests and clini- ising tool as its antimicrobial cal trials and further to the transfer of cold atmospheric pressure effects are able to inactivate plasma sources into the medical practice. biofilms on tooth or implant surfaces. Specifically devel- solid liquid gas plasma APPLICATION ORIENTED BASIC RESEARCH oped thin plasma can pre-

- - + cisely treat even difficult to + + + + - + - - - + - + - + - + + - + - - - To understand both the inactivation of microorganisms and oth- - Energy - Energy + - Energy + - + - + + + + - - - - + - + + - reach cavities and special - + - + + + - + er, more selective biological plasma effects on mammalian cells, + - + - + - + - + - + - - + - + - - laminar plasma could disin- the part and role of individual plasma components have to be States of matter fect implants and counteract clarified. It is already known that the main biological effects are implant stomatitis. mediated through liquid phases. Based on this, the principle of PLASMA MEDICINE Plasma in dentistry plasma activated liquids is currently used in water cleaning and The general aim of plasma medicine is to introduce cold plas- disinfection. However, more profound research is needed to fully Plasma has the ability to increase the wettability of implants ma into clinical practice. Plasma medicine can be subdivided understand the basic mechanisms in plasma liquid interactions. as well as teeth, aiding implant healing as well as periodon- into three main fields: titis treatment. FIELDS OF APPLICATION ▪▪ Plasma-assisted modification of bio-relevant surfaces FUTURE RESEARCH ▪▪ Plasma-based bio-decontamination/ sterilization The direct therapeutic application of cold plasmas on or in the hu- ▪▪ Direct therapeutic plasma application man or animal body is a completely new concept, which captures Challenges in medicine where cold plasma application is interest worldwide. In our collaborative projects, among others promising are infectious diseases like tuberculosis or MRSA. Surface modification and decontamination are more or less the effects of plasma in wound healing, dentistry, dermatology, Furthermore, first studies show that the treatment of can- indirect medical plasma applications where plasma technology cancer therapy, and implant medicine are examined. cer cells with plasma leads to the death of malignant cells. is used to process materials for subsequent medical applica- However, in addition to these first basic research results tion. The specific biological safety requirements of implants much more intensive scientific work and clinical trials are and other medical as well as pharmaceutical devices generate needed to validate first findings, expand our current scien- a growing need for developing effective decontaminating or tific knowledge and develop applicable plasma based solu- sterilizing treatments that simultaneously maintain the charac- tions for different diseases. teristics of the product.

Application of plasma Laboratory study OUR EXPERTISE LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR PLASMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald) is Europe’s largest non-university research institute for low temperature plasmas, their basic research and techni- cal applications. In plasma medicine researchers from physics, medicine, biology, pharmacy and chemistry, engineers and technicians collaborate in innovative projects. Our projects are PLASMA MEDICINE mostly conducted in research alliances together with universi- ties, scientific institutions, and companies.

Plasma source FROM IDEA TO PROTOTYPE Application Oriented Basic Research PLASMA SOURCES ▪▪ Investigation of plasma-liquid-interaction The development and characterization of atmospheric pressure ▪▪ Insight into molecular mechanisms of biological plasma effects plasmas is a core expertise of the INP Greifswald. The supply and characterization of adequate plasma sources provides the Applied Research and Technology Development basis for a successful medical application of atmospheric pres- ▪▪ Development of innovative and application-adapted plasma sure plasmas. Even though these sources are based on com- sources in a state-of-the-art research infrastructure mon plasma physical principles, their construction and operat- ing parameters must be extensively characterized and adapted Technology Transfer and Market Access Facilitation to the specific requirements of the experimental tasks and spe- ▪▪ Standardization of medical plasma sources (DIN-specification) cial medical applications. Comprehensive plasma diagnostics ▪▪ Supporting market launch of CE-certified plasma sources are a prerequisite for a detailed description and interpretation of chemical, biological and medical plasma effects. The objec- Supported by: tive of our efforts in research and development of integrated atmospheric pressure plasma systems is to provide new plasma European Union sources and solutions as manufacturing tools in health care ap- plications. Contact: Prof. Thomas von Woedtke Professor for Plasma Medicine Program Manager Plasma Medicine/ Decontamination [email protected] phone: +49 – 3834 - 554 445 // fax: +49 – 3834 - 554 301

INP Greifswald - From Idea to Prototype Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2 17489 Greifswald, Germany INP Greifswald www.inp-greifswald.de