Cold Atmospheric Plasma Exerts Antimicrobial Effects in a 3D Skin Model of Cutaneous Candidiasis

GND
1276453663
Affiliation
Department of Dermatology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
Fink, Sarah;
Affiliation
Institute of Micro- and Nanotechnologies, Ilmenau University of Technology, 98639 Ilmenau, Germany
Fischer, Michael;
Affiliation
Innovent e.V. Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
Spange, Sebastian;
Affiliation
Innovent e.V. Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
Beier, Oliver;
GND
124845649
Affiliation
Innovent e.V. Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
Horn, Kerstin;
GND
123928761
ORCID
0000-0002-2223-150X
Affiliation
Department of Dermatology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
Tittelbach, Jörg;
GND
141238739
Affiliation
Department of Dermatology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany
Wiegand, Cornelia

Cutaneous candidiasis is characterized by an overgrowth of Candida leading to skin inflammation and infection. Similar to bacteria, Candida can develop tolerance to common antifungal drugs. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), with its proven antimicrobial properties, offers a promising alternative to the prevailing methods. Because of plasma heterogeneity each new device must be tested individually for its effectiveness. Antimicrobial activity is usually studied using planktonic microorganisms or animal models, making it difficult to extrapolate the results to the human system. Therefore, a 3D skin model of cutaneous candidiasis for the antimicrobial testing of CAP was established. First, the reaction of the 3D-skin model to Candida infection was examined using various histological and molecular–biological methods. Infection with C. albicans resulted in increased expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and augmented expression of antimicrobial peptides. Within 48 h, hyphal growth spread throughout the model and caused tissue damage. Second, the CAP treatment was employed. It was shown that CAP significantly reduced the spread of the yeast in the infected skin models as well as decreased the expression and secretion of the infection markers. The plasma device exhibited a high antifungal activity by completely inhibiting hyphal growth and reducing inflammation at the highest treatment duration.

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