The treatment of chronic wounds with cold plasmas shows a healing effect after a few applications. Multi-resistant germs can be effectively combated and implant surfaces can be functionalized with various coatings to promote healing. INNOVENT is conducting basic research on the application of cold jet plasmas in dermatology and on the generation of innovative antibacterial surfaces on different materials in cooperation with the Clinic for Skin Diseases of the University Hospital Jena. The new treatment method is applied to chronic wounds at the Altenburger Land Clinic.
Cold atmospheric plasmas for medical applications have been studied in Germany for about 10 years. These plasmas are energetically excited gases which are generated in a low power range and thus, due to their moderate temperatures, can be used for treatment of living tissue without damaging effects. The positive properties of the plasmas are composed of a superposition of the effects of free reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, stimulating low UV radiation and the effect of electric fields with a pleasant thermal effect.
INNOVENT has been involved in various research projects with the Dermatological Clinic of the University Hospital Jena to investigate the antibacterial effect of plasma jets and the influence on the skin. In a recently completed research project, the suitability of plasma jet systems for medical applications was investigated and successfully demonstrated. Further work as well as a doctoral thesis are currently being carried out at the institute.
Internationally, plasma medicine is currently developing as an independent specialty - comparable to the introduction of laser medicine about 25 years ago. Already identified areas of application are - in addition to the surface modification of implants and the disinfection of temperature-sensitive materials - in dentistry and dermatology.
Numerous application observations at Klinikum Altenburger Land Gmbh have revealed the great potential of this new form of therapy. After multiple applications, even stubborn chronic wounds show healing success. The wounds appear "sealed", the irritation of the wound and the wound edges decreases noticeably and the wounds overgrow from the wound edge. In this process, treatments without contact with the wound are carried out on the patient with a cold plasma by passing the plasma, which acts like a small flame, over the wound area in a meandering motion. These treatments are repeated several times depending on the application. The treatment method has been successfully used on patients with chronic wounds and other wounds that are problematic for conventional medicine. Conclusive studies on the areas of application and limitations of plasma therapy are still pending. To speak of a revolution is surely still too early, means the LOÄ Dr. Birgit Schwetlick of the hospital for internal medicine/angiology of the clinical center Altenburger country GmbH. However, the painless treatments show surprisingly good results in addition to the previous stage-appropriate wound treatment methods. Above all, multi-resistant pathogens can be combated with it.
News on the subject area will be presented at the 5th Plasma Medicine - Workshop under the title "Therapeutic Use of Physical Plasmas: New Findings from Physics, Medicine and Biology" on September 13 and 14, 2017 in Rostock, Germany: including various dermatological applications of atmospheric plasmas, applications in cardiology and oral and maxillofacial surgery, plasma treatment of wound dressings, and discussion of the results of long-term studies and application observations.
Contact person at INNOVENT: Dr. Bernd Grünler, Mail
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