Assessment of the Impact of Atmospheric Cold Plasma Application on Wound Healing in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract Diabetic wounds heal slowly and are prone to severe complications, creating the need for innovative therapeutic approaches to accelerate tissue repair. Atmospheric pressure cold plasma (APCP) and plasma-activated water (PAW) have recently demonstrated potential to enhance wound healing due to their antimicrobial and regenerative properties. This study aimed to evaluate the wound-healing effects of APCP generated from argon gas and PAW in diabetic rats, and to compare these methods with conventional wound care products. Forty adult rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were randomly divided into five groups. Standardized punch and incision wounds were created. Group 1 received isotonic wet dressings, Group 2 hydrocolloid dressings, Group 3 APCP via plasma jet, Group 4 PAW topically once daily, and Group 5 (non-diabetic control) received no dressing. Wounds were assessed on days 7 and 10 using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool. On day 13, wound tissue samples were collected for histological and biochemical analyses. Results showed that wound dimensions decreased more significantly in the PAW-treated group compared to the other treatment groups, particularly in the early phase of healing. This reduction continued progressively at each control point. Histological evaluation revealed increased epidermal thickness, higher collagen deposition, and greater hair follicle density in Group 4, accompanied by elevated antioxidant levels compared to the other diabetic groups. In conclusion, PAW demonstrated superior efficacy in promoting wound healing in diabetic rats compared with APCP and conventional dressings. These findings suggest PAW as a promising therapeutic approach for managing diabetic wounds.