Interdisciplinarity: In the DNA of plasma medicine

Special issue: Plasma Medicine - Part II Interdisciplinarity: In the DNA of Plasma Medicine Cristina Canal*, Albert Espona Noguera, Francesco Tampieri Plasmas for BioMedical Applications laboratory (PlasmaMED lab), Materials Science and Engineering Department and Research Center in Biomedical Engineering (CREB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · Barcelonatech (UPC), Barcelona, Spain *[email protected] Plasma medicine is a rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary field that gathers a spectrum of scientific domains to exploit ionized gases at temperatures close to ambient (cold plasmas) for transformative applications in healthcare and biotechnology. This emerging area of research is marked by its inherent interdisciplinarity, where experts from diverse fields collaborate to unravel the potential of this exciting field.[1] At its heart, plasma medicine combines elements of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Physics lays the foundation by elucidating plasma properties and biological interactions.[2] Physicists and engineers collaborate closely to design and optimize plasma devices, forging links between theory and practical application. Chemistry assumes a pivotal role in uncovering the chemical reactions that are responsible for the therapeutic potential of plasmas, especially mediated by liquids or organic molecules present in the biological target.[3] Reactive species generated by plasma, like oxygen and nitrogen variants, exhibit powerful effects, from cancer cell eradication to wound healing.[4] In this sense, it is on biologists and medical experts to translate plasma technologies into clinical practice.[5] Of course, engineering expertise is essential to develop user-friendly, cost-effective plasma systems, bridging the gap from laboratory innovation to real-world healthcare settings.[6] Furthermore, beyond these core disciplines, contribution and collaboration from materials science, microbiology, or data analytics catalyze innovation and advances the field. This second part of the special issue clearly reflects on this through the variety of applications and approaches gathered. It includes a scientific perspective, a review article and five research articles. This collection shed light on the growing horizons of plasma medicine highlighting the future possibilities and challenges of this promising technology in medical applications The era of artificial intelligence (AI) has extended into the field of plasma medicine. The scientific perspective from Ercan et al. showcases AI’s potential to revolutionize plasma medicine by modeling and optimizing plasma technology for medical applications.[7] In this context, AI would allow for addressing the chemical and biological complexity behind plasma technology through the analysis of massive volumes of data, enabling the prediction of outcomes with a level of precision not possible before. Among the wide variety of medical applications, plasma has also demonstrated promise in dentistry. The review paper from Silva et al. sheds light on the beneficial uses of plasma in oral care as a non-invasive and effective treatment option, providing a promising alternative approach to traditional methods for treating and preventing oral conditions.[8] Introducing the research contributions in the special issue, two papers focus on the antimicrobial applications of cold plasma sources. The article from Trebulová et al. investigates the action of different plasma sources for preventing and treating fungal infections, which could be employed in different approaches (i.e., surface decontamination, medical device sterilization or direct treatment of infected tissues) depending on their configuration.[9] From another perspective, Jirásek et al. explore the chemistry underlying the antimicrobial effects of plasma-treated liquids (PTLs). This article emphasizes the significance of comprehending the chemical processes and reactions within PTLs to establish a correlation between the chemical aspects of the PTLs and their therapeutic effects in medical applications.[10] The last part of the special issue is devoted to another of the most exciting applications of cold plasmas in medicine: cancer treatment. In this collection three articles explore the potential of PTLs for the indirect treatment of several cancer types. Raud et al. investigate the production of reactive chlorine species in saline solution using Ar/O2 and He/O2 radiofrequency plasma jets, and assess their effects on liver cancer cells, revealing that these cells are more sensitive to H2O2 than chlorine species.[11] In the same line, Bucci et al. explore the use of plasma-generated reactive species on ovarian cancer therapy.[12] They compare the effects of plasma-treated Ringer's saline and Ringer's lactate solution, analyzing the chemical changes in reactive species and lactate oxidation. Their results indicate that plasma-treated Ringer's lactate solution exhibits reduced cytotoxicity compared to Ringer's saline, suggesting that lactate has an impact on the chemistry induced by plasma in solution. Finally, Özdemir et al. study the effectiveness of plasma-treated N-acetyl cysteine solution on squamous cell carcinoma.[13] Their findings demonstrate the potential of this therapeutic approach, showing a selective cytotoxic effect by inactivating cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. All authors in this special issue that focused on the oncological applications of PTLs, provide insights into the potential of this technology in cancer therapy. However, they also highlight the need for further in-depth research into the molecular mechanisms through which reactive species affect cancer cells to advance this approach as a promising strategy for non-invasive cancer therapies. In conclusion, plasma medicine exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration that remains the hallmark of plasma medicine's DNA. By harnessing the expertise of physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers, and other specialists, this field has the potential to reshape the landscape of healthcare, offering innovative solutions to different medical challenges. As researchers continue to explore the capabilities of plasma, the synergy between these disciplines will remain essential for unlocking the full potential of this exciting frontier in medicine.[14] Acknowledgements Authors acknowledge COST Action Action CA20114 PlasTHER “Therapeutical Applications of Cold Plasmas”, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and Agencia Estatal de Investigación for Project PID2019-103892RBI00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. References [1] C. Canal, A. E. Noguera, F. Tampieri, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, 20, e2370019. [2] M. Laroussi, Front. Phys. 2020, 8, 1–7. [3] F. Tampieri, Y. Gorbanev, E. Sardella, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, 20, e2300077. [4] A. Privat-Maldonado, A. Schmidt, A. Lin, K. D. Weltmann, K. Wende, A. Bogaerts, S. Bekeschus, Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev. 2019, 2019, DOI 10.1155/2019/9062098. [5] A. Dubuc, A. Galibourg, T. Canceill, S. Laurencin‐Dalicieux, S. Cousty, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, DOI 10.1002/ppap.202300060. [6] A. Stancampiano, T.-H. Chung, S. Dozias, J.-M. Pouvesle, L. M. Mir, E. Robert, IEEE Trans. Radiat. Plasma Med. Sci. 2020, 4, 335–342. [7] U. K. Ercan, G. D. Özdemir, M. A. Özdemir, O. Güren, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, e2300066. [8] N. Silva, J. Marques, M. B. da Cruz, H. Luís, S. Sério, A. Mata, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, e2300067. [9] K. Trebulová, F. Krčma, P. Skoumalová, Z. Kozáková, Z. Machala, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, e2300048. [10] V. Jirásek, B. Tarabová, P. Lukeš, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, e2300052. [11] S. Raud, J. Raud, L. Aarik, I. Jõgi, M. Kivimäe, C. Piller, M. Plaas, T. Plank, R. Talviste, T. Teesalu, E. Vasar, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, e2300068. [12] C. Bucci, F. Tampieri, M. Mateu‐Sanz, R. Laurita, V. Colombo, C. Canal, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, e2300093. [13] G. D. Özdemir, U. K. Ercan, O. Karaman, F. Oltulu, Plasma Process. Polym. 2023, e2200246. [14] S. Bekeschus, P. Favia, E. Robert, T. von Woedtke, Plasma Process. Polym. 2019, 16, 1800033.