Research into the possibilities of plasma-based cancer therapies

Research into the possibilities of plasma-based cancer therapies

Exploring the possibilities of atmospheric pressure plasmas to develop and consolidate new medical therapies is the main objective of the PlasTHER network, an initiative funded by the European Union under the COST actions. Led by the UPC, the network brings together research groups, the medical community, industry and patient associations from 24 European countries who will work in the coming years to develop new treatments for cancer, tissue regeneration and repair, emerging infectious diseases and others.

Gas plasma medicine is a multidisciplinary field that emerged two decades ago as an innovative field combining physics, chemistry, engineering and life sciences. This emerging field combines gas plasma technology with clinical medicine and bioengineering with the aim of using cold atmospheric pressure plasma in human and veterinary therapy for wound disinfection and healing, cancer treatment, etc. A powerful technology that includes a large number of reactive species (molecules, atoms, ions, electrons, photons, UV and visible radiation) that have been shown to influence cells through complex biochemical processes, opening new possibilities for gas plasma medicine.

However, despite scientific and technological innovations in medicine, treatments currently available based on this technology are still not fully effective in fighting cancer, tissue regeneration and repair, and combating drug-resistant pathogens, including emerging infections. In order for gas plasma technology to advance effectively in these and other areas, it is necessary not only to identify the mechanisms involved in the therapeutic effect, but also to improve the collaboration of the scientific community from various disciplines active in this field and relationships with industry.

The COST Action “Therapeutic Applications of Cold Plasma (PlasTHER)”, led by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC), aims to promote the development of a gas plasma medicine research program in Europe and to promote European activities in this field. The project is coordinated by Cristina Canal, a researcher in the Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT), head of the PlasmaMED laboratory and professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, affiliated to the Barcelona East School of Engineering (EEBE) and the Biomedical Engineering Research Center (CREB).

The PlasTHER action is funded by the European Union under the COST actions and consists of a network of more than 100 experts in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering and medicine from 24 countries. In the coming years, this synergistic network of research personnel, the medical community as well as industry and patient associations will explore the possibilities of atmospheric pressure plasmas in medicine, to share, develop and consolidate treatments under research and to promote European leadership in this field.

Canal emphasizes that “the PlasTHER COST action will help us advance the development of gas plasma medicine in Europe and put to the test the excellent research carried out so far for the benefit of patients.” She notes: “The areas of research that are attracting the most interest due to their potential are cancer treatment – ​​the selective action of gas plasma can prevent side effects in healthy tissue – and the antimicrobial action of gas plasma, which can be used, for example, in.” Dentistry and wound regeneration.”

The researcher explains that “the action of gas plasma is mainly due to its reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are essential for cellular function.” Depending on the type of species and the dose, they can play a dual role of exerting beneficial effects on healthy cells and selectively attacking cancer cells.”

Promoting the biomedical applications of gas plasma

One of the priorities of the PlasTHER action is to promote gas plasma technology as a standardized treatment in several biomedical applications of great social importance and to exploit its antimicrobial potential for, for example, skin treatment and cancer therapy.

Over the past five years, intensified research in several areas of gas plasma medicine - particularly sterilization and decontamination, wound healing and cancer treatment - has called for harmonization of protocols and alignment of knowledge in a common direction to help all previous efforts and public investments in basic and applied science result in benefits for society and the healthcare system.

PlasTHER COST is therefore designed as an interdisciplinary network that brings together the latest advances in the fundamental mechanisms of plasma action and the most suitable operating conditions for efficient therapies. The network will also work to harmonize protocols within the community in the therapeutic areas involved and create a roadmap for each area.

To address these challenges, the network is divided into six working groups that focus on different areas of technology development: the biological mechanisms of gas-plasma interaction, the antimicrobial effects of gas-plasma, tissue regeneration, cancer treatment, combined therapies and technology ethics, transfer and dissemination.

In the initial phase, PlasTHER COST published the network website and held the training “Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Medicine” from February 14 to 16, 2022 in Caparica (Portugal). This was the first opportunity for many doctoral students to exchange experiences with colleagues working in the same research area and to present their work.

The next milestone was an annual meeting on the occasion of the 9th International Conference on Plasma Medicine, which took place in Utrecht (Netherlands) from June 27th to July 1st. Around 14 additional scientific missions are planned for the network in the coming months.

Source:

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC)

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