Current cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation often struggle to target cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. Many tumors—especially aggressive or drug-resistant types—remain difficult to treat due to limited drug penetration, poor selectivity, and systemic toxicity. There is a pressing need for a method that can sensitize cancer cells to existing therapies while minimizing side effects and expanding treatment accessibility.
Researchers at George Washington University have developed a novel system that generates Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Activated Media (CAM)—a cell-free liquid infused with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) through controlled plasma exposure.
CAM is produced by directing a cold plasma jet at cell culture media under optimized conditions, including specific voltage, frequency, gas flow, and electrode spacing. The resulting media contains long-lived reactive species such as hydrogen peroxide, nitrite, and nitrate, which induce oxidative stress and sensitize cancer cells to follow-up treatments. Because CAM is storable, portable, and does not require direct plasma application, it offers a flexible and scalable solution for cancer therapy.
Figure 1. CAP enhances Temozolomide (TMZ) cytotoxicity. (A) U87MG glioblastoma cells were treated with 10 μM, 25 μM, 50 μM, 100 μM and 250 μM of temozolomide for 6 days with the drug being replaced on alternate days. Cell response was recorded 6 days after plasma treatment. (B) Treatments with 180 s-CAP and 10 μM or 50 Μm TMZ enhances cell response to drug treatment in comparison to TMZ alone in a dose-dependent manner, providing maximal outcomes with the drug being replaced every alternate day for 6 days. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean, and the asterisks indicate statistical significance compared to the untreated.
Advantages
Applications