All-Flex Plasma Patch (AFPP) shrinks melanoma tumors to 1/19th volume in animal model

Wearable cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) systems show significant promise for oncology, particularly in non-invasive tumor treatment. However, their clinical adoption has been hampered by rigid designs, poor skin contact, and a lack of detailed mechanistic understanding. Current CAP devices often struggle with delivering therapeutic agents effectively across the skin barrier. This study addresses these gaps by developing a flexible CAP platform designed for improved contact and enhanced delivery of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), aiming for safer and more effective cancer therapy.

Researchers developed an All-Flex Plasma Patch (AFPP), a fully stretchable CAP platform operating in ambient air. They tested its efficacy in a subcutaneous melanoma model, applying AFPP treatment for one week. The primary endpoint was tumor volume, compared against a control group. The study also assessed transdermal penetration of RONS, biocompatibility, and systemic burden. Further mechanistic investigations utilized the platform to identify regulated proteins, metabolic changes, and effects on calcium homeostasis and cell death modalities.

One-week treatment with the AFPP in a subcutaneous melanoma model resulted in pronounced tumor regression. > The treated group achieved only 1/19 of the tumor volume observed in the control group, representing approximately a 95% reduction in tumor size. The AFPP demonstrated enhanced transdermal penetration of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) compared to rigid plasma sources, indicating its potential as an efficient cross-barrier delivery system. It also showed excellent biocompatibility and minimal systemic burden. Mechanistically, AFPP treatment was found to regulate multiple previously unreported key proteins, drive metabolic reprogramming, and disrupt calcium homeostasis. This multifaceted action inhibits tumor progression by orchestrating multiple cell death modalities. Importantly, the device exhibited low side effects under optimized conditions, with adverse responses noted only under excessive exposure.