Cold plasma technology for the treatment of people with chronic wounds

Chronic wounds place a considerable burden on patients and healthcare systems. Cold plasma technology has become increasingly established for the treatment of people with chronic wounds in recent years. Currently, various cold plasma devices are available. These all generate body-temperature plasmas as well as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). They have not only antimicrobial effects, but also increase dermal blood flow and enhance cell proliferation. Thus, cold plasma-mediated, accelerated wound healing is based on several biological effects that synergistically act within one treatment. Therefore, the AWMF S2k guideline on the rational therapeutic use of cold physical plasma, published in 2022, recommends wound care using cold plasma technology. This article provides an overview of the clinical evidence, potential mechanisms of action, and safety aspects of the therapeutic use of cold plasma technology in chronic wounds.