Platelets are key in cold physical plasma-facilitated blood coagulation in mice

Publication date: December 2017 Source:Clinical Plasma Medicine, Volumes 7–8 Author(s): Sander Bekeschus, Janik Brüggemeier, Christine Hackbarth, Thomas von Woedtke, Lars-Ivo Partecke, Julia van der Linde Surgical interventions inevitably lead to destruction of blood vessels. This is especially dangerous in anticoagulated patients. Electrocauterization is a frequently used technique to seal incised tissue. However, leading to a superficial layer of necrotic tissue, the treated area evolves a high vulnerability to contact, making it prone to detachment. As a result, dangerous postoperative bleeding may occur. Cold physical plasma was previously suggested as a pro-coagulant treatment method. It mainly acts by expelling a delicate mixture of oxidants. We therefore tested the suitability of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (kINPen MED) as a new medical device for sufficient blood coagulation in a murine model of liver incision. Plasma treatment of murine blood ex vivo induced sufficient coagula. This effect did not affect any tested parameter of plasmatic coagulation cascade, suggesting the mechanism to be related to cellular coagulation. Indeed, isolated platelets were significantly activated following exposure to plasma, although this effect was less pronounced in whole blood. To analyse the biological effect of plasma-on blood coagulation in vivo, mice were anticoagulated (clopidogrel inhibiting cellular and rivaroxaban inhibiting plasmatic hemostasis) or received...
Source: Clinical Plasma Medicine - Category: Research Source Type: research