Nonthermal plasma as part of a novel strategy for vaccination

Hager Mohamed; Rita A Esposito; Michele A Kutzler; Brian Wigdahl; Fred C Krebs; Vandana Miller

doi:10.1002/ppap.202000051

Nonthermal plasma as part of a novel strategy for vaccination

Plasma Process Polym. 2020 Oct;17(10):2000051. doi: 10.1002/ppap.202000051. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

Authors

Hager Mohamed¹, Rita A Esposito¹, Michele A Kutzler¹, Brian Wigdahl¹, Fred C Krebs¹, Vandana Miller¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Abstract

Vaccination has been one of the most effective health intervention mechanisms to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases. Vaccines stimulate the body's protective immune responses through controlled exposure to modified versions of pathogens that establish immunological memory. However, only a few diseases have effective vaccines. The biological effects of nonthermal plasma on cells suggest that plasma could play an important role in improving efficacy of existing vaccines and overcoming some of the limitations and challenges with current vaccination strategies. This review summarizes the opportunities for nonthermal plasma for immunization and therapeutic purposes.

Keywords: COVID‐19; adjuvant; immunity; immunotherapy; nonthermal plasma; vaccine.

Publication types

Review