Application of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet in a rat model of ischaemic stroke: Design, optimisation, and characteristics

Abstract Recent studies have shown the in vitro neuro‐protective functions of atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) against multiple pathological injuries during ischaemic stroke (IS). However, whether APP treatment exerts a therapeutic effect on a rat IS model remains unclear. Here, on the basis of needle‐to‐ring dielectric barrier discharge, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) was designed, with the Helium as the working gas which was driven by a sinusoidal voltage. Then, the treatment conditions were optimised for IS rat model treatment and the characteristics of this APPJ were further diagnosed. Subsequently, the rat IS model was established through 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and plasma was intermittently inhaled by rats via the nasal cavity for a 2 min period at 60 min of MCAO process. The therapeutic effects of this plasma jet device were then evaluated using biomedical analyses. According to our results, intermittent APP inhalation in the MCAO rats increased the serum NO content, improved the neurological function, enhanced regional cerebral blood flow, lowered brain infarction, and reduced the cell apoptosis in brain tissues of MCAO rats. Collectively, our data provides a novel potential strategy for IS treatment by using atmospheric‐pressure plasma inhalation.