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Gel models to assess distribution and diffusion of reactive species from cold atmospheric plasma: an overview for plasma medicine applications

par Thulliez, Max ;Bastin, Orianne ;Nonclercq, Antoine ;Delchambre, Alain ;Reniers, François
Référence Journal of physics. D, Applied physics, 54, 46, page (23), 463001
Publication Publié, 2021-08-01

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

The emerging field of plasma medicine opens new therapeutic opportunities with the use of coldatmospheric plasma as a versatile tool for the treatment of tissues in various medical indications.Yet, the complexity of this very reactive medium combined with a high dependence on itsenvironment and generation parameters make it difficult to predict and optimize such treatment.To this end, a simple yet robust and accurate tissue phantom allowing to study the penetrationand distribution of plasma action in simulated in vivo conditions has been developed by severalgroups. It combines a hydrogel-based matrix closely resembling tissues and chemical reportersincorporated in the gel to measure the delivery of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS)by the plasma. This paper reports the use of these models in the literature to give an overview ofthe state of the art, their capabilities and the further research required to improve it. First thehydrogels composition (i.e. gelatin and agarose) is discussed, as well as the parameters allowingto fine tune the model. In particular, we show that modifying mass fraction has been reported tomimic several types of tissues and that different model configurations allow to test differenttreatments conditions, including the barrier effect of skin or the direct treatment of a tissue bulk.The role of other critical parameters is highlighted, including manufacturing, diffusion,electrical characteristics but also liquid composition, thickness, aging and temperatureinfluence. Secondly, RONS reporters used in the plasma medicine literature(colorimetric/fluorometric dyes) are summarized. The analysis techniques are discussed and thedyes characteristics (i.e. wavelength, specificity, and concentrations) are reported. Finally, theinfluence of medium and time on these measurements are covered. Main achievements, as wellas limitations of these models are presented and linked to potential improvements and further research.