Delayed Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Vascular Cells

We investigated the long‐term behaviour of vascular cells (endothelial and smooth muscle) after exposure to a cold atmospheric plasma source. The cells were treated through a gas‐permeable membrane, in order to simulate intravenous treatment with a gas plasma‐filled catheter. Such indirect treatment resulted in (dose‐dependent) apoptosis and necrosis in smooth muscle cells; these effects were visible 6–10 h after exposure. We ascribed cell damage to poisoning by active nitrogen species. A not yet resolved phenomenon of total (irreversible) cell inactivation without necrosis was observed in endothelial cells. Conditions for non‐inflammatory plasma treatment (no cell necrosis) can be realized. Furthermore, the current experiments have brought new insights in the mechanism of cell detachment, which was observed in many previous studies. magnified image