Cold plasma can destroy cancer cells hidden deep within the body.

According to the research team from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, Greifswald University Hospital and Rostock University Medical Center, cold plasma rays can destroy tumor cells even in deep tissue layers.

German scientists have just demonstrated that cold plasma can penetrate deep into tumors and attack cancer cells, and have discovered that molecules with very short lifespans in the plasma are the key agents – contrary to long-held assumptions about the role of hydrogen peroxide.

A research team at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), in collaboration with Greifswald University Hospital and Rostock University Medical Center, reports that cold plasma can destroy tumor cells even in deep tissue layers.

A key achievement of the project is the development of novel tissue models, which for the first time allow for detailed tracking of how specific components of plasma interact with cancer cells.

Plasma is an ionized gas that produces a large number of chemically active molecules, collectively known as reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species. These short-lived molecules can strongly influence biological processes, including determining whether tumor cells survive or are destroyed.

"The effects of plasma in tissue are complex and poorly understood," said Lea Miebach, the study's lead author. "So we developed a 3D hydrogel model that mimics real tumor tissue. In this model, we can observe precisely how deeply molecules from the plasma penetrate, and which molecules are important for their impact on tumor cells."

The results showed that particularly short-lived molecules like peroxynitrite can penetrate several millimeters into tissue. Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide—previously considered the main active ingredient in laboratory research—showed limited effectiveness: even with the deliberate removal of hydrogen peroxide, the plasma's efficacy remained strong.

The team also tested a model simulating adjuvant post-surgical treatment: residual tumor cells at the edge of the artificial “surgical incision” were treated with plasma. The results showed a strong destructive effect, especially on cells that had invaded surrounding tissue – suggesting the potential to reduce the risk of recurrence after surgery.

Professor and Doctor Sander Bekeschus, Head of the Plasma Medicine Research Program at INP, said: “Our results could significantly improve the application of plasma in medicine. The better we understand which molecules are active in tissue, the more precisely plasma devices can be used for specific types of cancer.”

The study utilized a medically approved plasma device called “kINPen.” In the long term, this method could contribute to more effective and gentler treatment for patients.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tia-plasma-lanh-co-the-tieu-diet-te-bao-ung-thu-an-sau-post1060475.vnp