Objective:
Wound healing involves diverse factors. Stem cells aid healing, reduce inflammation, and regulate immunity. Low-temperature plasma is a new approach for wound healing. This study explores biological effects of plasma on stem cells to improve non-healing wounds

Materials and Methods:
Rat adipose-derived stem cells (rASCs) were isolated from the abdominal and inguinal fat pad. Stem cell characteristics were assessed through CD marker analysis and differentiation assays.Different plasma treatments, including direct and indirect exposure, as well as variations in duration and frequency of treatment, were applied using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) patch on rASCs and culture medium.The biological effects of plasma treatment were evaluated by measuring rASC proliferation using a CCK-8 assay, assessing cell migration by a scratch test, and using flow cytometry to analyze cell surface antigens.

Results:
Cell proliferation significantly increased after 1, 5, and 10 minutes of plasma treatment compared to the control group but decreased with a 20-minute treatment time. CD29 expression decreased by 3.2%, 5.3%, and 9.4% after 1, 5, and 20 minutes of plasma exposure, respectively. A 1-minute plasma exposure enhanced rASCs' cell migration rate by 10%, while a 5-minute exposure showed no positive effect.

Conclusions:
Short-term plasma treatment shows potential in improving rASCs proliferation and stemness. The observed biological effects of plasma on ASCs warrant further investigation to enhance functional outcomes in cell therapy applications.