Plasma, an ionized gas composed of charged particles, has shown therapeutic potential in enhancing biological processes such as wound healing and tissue integration. Implants, such as silicone and human acellular dermal matrix (hADM), are commonly used in reconstructive surgery, but improving their biocompatibility and integration remains a challenge. This study investigated the effects of vacuum plasma treatment on silicone and hADM implants using an in vivo rat model. Plasma-treated and untreated implants were inserted subcutaneously, and tissue samples were collected at 1, 4, and 8 weeks post-implantation. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to assess inflammation, cellular infiltration, collagen formation (neocollagenesis), and angiogenesis. Results showed that plasma-treated silicone and hADM implants had significantly reduced capsule thickness at weeks 4 and 8 compared to untreated controls, indicating a lower chronic inflammatory response. Plasma treatment also promoted greater fibroblast infiltration and enhanced neocollagenesis within the hADM implants. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining revealed a notable increase in blood vessel formation around and within the plasma-treated hADM implants, suggesting improved vascularization. In conclusion, vacuum plasma treatment enhances the biocompatibility and tissue integration of implants by reducing inflammation and promoting cellular and vascular responses, offering promising potential for improving outcomes in reconstructive surgery.

Efforts are ongoing to enhance the functionality of human acellular dermal matrices (hADMs), which are extensively utilized in reconstructive surgeries. Among these efforts, plasma treatments, particularly vacuum plasma treatments, have recently emerged in the medical field. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of a vacuum plasma treatment in enhancing the biocompatibility and biointegration of hADMs. Utilizing a plasma activator (ACTILINK reborn, Plasmapp Co., Ltd., Daejeon, Republic of Korea), hADMs were treated and evaluated through in vitro and in vivo analyses. Hydrophilicity changes were gauged by the blood absorption times, while SEM imaging was used to analyze physical surface deformation. Protein adsorption was measured with fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin and fibronectin. For the in vivo study, mice were implanted with plasma-treated and untreated hADMs, and the post-implantation effects were analyzed through histological and immunofluorescence microscopy. The plasma-treated hADMs demonstrated a significantly enhanced hydrophilicity compared to the untreated samples. SEM imaging confirmed the maintenance of the microroughness after the treatment. The treated hADMs showed a significant reduction in fibronectin adsorption, a critical factor for cellular adhesion. In vivo, the plasma-treated hADMs exhibited reduced capsule formation and enhanced fibroblast infiltration, indicating improved biocompatibility and integration. These findings highlight the potential of a plasma treatment to enhance the performance of hADMs in clinical settings, offering a promising avenue for improving reconstructive surgery outcomes.

Numerous studies have investigated the surface treatment of implants using various types of plasma, including atmospheric pressure plasma and vacuum plasma, to remove impurities and increase surface energy, thereby enhancing osseointegration. Most previous studies have focused on generating plasma directly on the implant surface by using the implant as an electrode for plasma discharge. However, plasmas generated under atmospheric and moderate vacuum conditions often have a limited plasma volume, meaning the shape of the electrodes significantly influences the local electric field characteristics, which in turn affects plasma behavior. Consequently, to ensure consistent performance across implants of different sizes and shapes, it is essential to develop a plasma source with discharge characteristics that are unaffected by the treatment target, ensuring uniform exposure. To address this challenge, we developed a novel plasma source, termed “vortex plasma”, which generates uniform plasma using a magnetic field within a controlled space. We then compared the surface treatment efficiency of the vortex plasma to that of conventional direct plasma discharge by evaluating hydrophilicity, surface chemistry, and surface morphology. In addition, to assess the biological outcomes, we examined osteoblast cell activity on both the vortex and direct plasma-treated surfaces. Our results demonstrate that vortex plasma improved hydrophilicity, reduced carbon content, and enhanced osteoblast adhesion and activity to a level comparable to direct plasma, all while maintaining the physical surface structure and morphology.