A Study on the Effect of Non-thermal Plasma on Macrophage Phenotype Modulation

Non-thermal plasma has gained significant popularity in the field of biology due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which can alter gene expression within cells. Plasma treatment has been used to address various medical issues, such as cancer treatment, blood clotting, and bacterial sterilization. In our study, we investigated the effect of non-thermal plasma treatment on monocyte-derived macrophages (U937) in vitro. To create an in vivo-like environment, the cells were embedded in a collagen matrix and treated with a di-electric barrier non-thermal plasma system using a combination of air and helium flow. Our results showed that plasma in air might modulate macrophages through changes in gene expression. Further experiments revealed the presence of reactive species responsible for these changes. By evaluating cell viability and gene expression, we determined that 120 s of plasma treatment in air is optimal for Fibroblast cells within collagen. Our study suggests that non-thermal plasma in air can modulate monocyte-derived macrophages embedded in collagen.