'Cold Plasma' Researchers See Success in New Leukemia Cancer Treatment Method

Each year, nearly 11 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. “Because the patients suffer through the long-term side effects such as hair loss, memory impairment and nerve damage from current treatments, the demonstration of cold plasma as a highly potential cancer treatment is a significant breakthrough at many levels,” said Dr. Magesh Thiyagarajan, Director of the Plasma Engineering Research Lab at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and his research team. “Leukemia is the hardest to kill and that there is tremendous need for better and more efficient leukemia treatment methods,” said Thiyagarajan. The research team of Thiyagarajan explains in the, new study published in a high-impact biotechnology and bioengineering journal Wiley, developing an incredible way to without harming heat unlike traditional plasma. Traditional plasma is made by heating up gas molecules to form what looks like colored ray of light. Example the plasma televisions and fluorescent lights calling it “cold plasma.” “Cold plasma induces the cancer cells to self-destruct, but it can leave the healthy cells unharmed.” Acknowledging the species produced by the cold plasma it naturally side effects the cells own metabolic processes. “Within 24 hours, we began to see the destruction of 90 percent of the cancer cells,” Leaving the healthy cells unharmed due to their lower levels of reactive species to begin with. “The cold plasma forces those cancer cells to self-destruct in a rage of apoptosis,” having two different ways to kill cancer apoptosis or necrosis. Apoptosis is a natural and beneficial process involving a series biochemical event. Necrosis is caused by external factors such as infection, toxins or trauma. Thiyagarajan discovered cancer cells with cold plasma convincing either or both apoptosis or necrosis is depending on the cold plasma device. Battling cancer has its historically involved things like surgery, chemotherapy and