Use of cold plasma treatment of gastroenterological desease in vivo –a pilot study in mice

Nonthermal plasmas found its use medical sterilization, wound healing, skin diseases and tissue regeneration; it can be used with a biological interface as it has bactericidal effect, induces apoptosis, enhances coagulation and increases cell proliferation. Here we present first results of in vivo studies of cold spark discharge (CSD) plasma treatment of animal colon in normal and disease conditions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether CSD causes adverse effects in the mouse colon in normal and disease conditions. Studies were conducted in two stages. Stage 1: We evaluated possible damage of CSD plasma on colon blood vessels at different doses of plasma treatment. Stage 2: We evaluated whether CSD would cause high level of disease compared to control animals in the dextran sulfate-induced colitis (disease of the colon). The CSD system, 2 mm O.D. was introduced through the anus up to 4 cm inside the colon. Colon tissue was collected to measure tissue and DNA damage. CSD plasma treatment did not cause any damage to the colon. In stage 2, plasma treatment showed significantly less severe disease compared to control mice. Lower disease activity was attributable to the prevention of gross (visible) bleeding. Plasma treatment did not any cause damage to the colon tissue. Spark discharge treatment of mouse colitis provided disease preventing effects compared to controls.