Plasma medicine
Plasma medicine is an emerging field that combines the disciplines of plasma physics, life sciences, and clinical medicine. It involves the application of low-temperature plasma technology to various medical treatments, such as cancer therapy, wound healing, and tissue regeneration.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Plasma is often referred to as the fourth state of matter. It is an ionized gas that contains ions, electrons, neutral atoms, and molecules. In the context of plasma medicine, low-temperature plasma is used. This type of plasma is not in thermal equilibrium and has a temperature that is safe for biological tissues.
Plasma medicine leverages the unique properties of plasma, such as its ability to generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). These species play a crucial role in cellular processes and can be used to target specific biological mechanisms.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Cancer Therapy[edit | edit source]
Plasma medicine has shown promise in the field of oncology. Plasma can induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells without harming healthy cells. This is achieved by generating RONS that damage the cancer cells' DNA and other cellular components.
Wound Healing[edit | edit source]
Plasma can also accelerate the healing of chronic wounds. It does this by stimulating the body's natural healing processes, including cell proliferation and migration, and by killing bacteria that may be present in the wound.
Tissue Regeneration[edit | edit source]
Research is ongoing into the use of plasma in tissue regeneration. Preliminary studies suggest that plasma can stimulate the growth and differentiation of stem cells, which could potentially be used to regenerate damaged tissues.
Challenges and Future Directions[edit | edit source]
While plasma medicine has shown promise, there are still many challenges to overcome. These include understanding the precise mechanisms by which plasma interacts with biological tissues, and developing safe and effective plasma devices for clinical use. Despite these challenges, the future of plasma medicine looks promising, with ongoing research and clinical trials.
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
