Cold Plasma Technology in 2025: Revolutionizing Medicine and Environmental Protection

In 2025, cold plasma technology has moved beyond laboratories to become a practical solution in medicine, environmental protection, and industry. Unlike familiar "hot" plasma found in flames or lightning, cold plasma is a low-temperature ionized state of gas where electrons are highly energized while the gas itself remains near room temperature.

This unique property makes cold plasma safe for biological tissues and unlocks enormous potential for sterilization, wound healing, air and water purification, and the breakdown of toxic substances. Cold plasma streams can destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores without damaging surfaces or living cells.

Today, plasma treatment technologies are used in surgery, dentistry, hospital equipment disinfection, and environmental installations for water decontamination and waste processing. Scientists refer to cold plasma as the "fourth state of matter of the future," merging physics, medicine, and ecology into a unified, sustainable technological system.

What Is Cold Plasma and How Does It Work?

Cold plasma is a special state of matter where some gas atoms become ionized, creating a mix of electrons, ions, and neutral particles. Unlike high-temperature plasma (as used in nuclear reactors), cold plasma maintains a low gas temperature-typically around 20-40 °C-making it safe for contact with surfaces and living organisms.

Plasma is generated by applying an electric field or microwave radiation to energize molecules in air, oxygen, argon, or helium. This process creates active species-ozone, radicals, ions, and ultraviolet radiation-with strong antimicrobial and oxidative properties.

Main Types of Cold Plasma Generators

• Atmospheric plasma jets - produce a directed plasma flow for treating skin, instruments, or surfaces;
• Plasma barriers and corona discharges - used for air treatment and room sterilization;
• Low-pressure plasma reactors - applied in industry and environmental sectors for purifying gases and water.

The key feature of cold plasma is its combination of chemical and physical effects. It destroys microbial cell walls, oxidizes organic contaminants, and neutralizes viral particles without requiring high temperatures or aggressive chemicals.

Cold Plasma in Medicine and Treatment

One of the most impressive areas for cold plasma application is medicine. Its low temperature and antimicrobial effects make it safe for tissues, opening new doors for therapy, sterilization, and regeneration.

1. Wound and burn healing.

   Cold plasma streams stimulate blood circulation, trigger cell division, and speed up new tissue formation. They also destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making plasma especially effective for chronic and infected wounds.

2. Sterilization of instruments and surfaces.

   Plasma units sterilize medical tools, endoscopes, and catheters. Unlike traditional thermal sterilization, cold plasma does not damage plastics or optical materials, completely eliminating spores and viruses in just 1-3 minutes.

3. Dermatology and dentistry.

   In cosmetology, plasma treats acne, eczema, fungal infections, and disinfects skin. In dentistry, it is used to disinfect tooth canals and accelerate mucosal healing.

4. Oncology and cell therapy.

   Recent studies show cold plasma can selectively destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, thanks to reactive oxygen species. This rapidly developing area offers a non-invasive alternative to radiation therapy.

Cold plasma is already in use in clinics across Germany, South Korea, and Japan, where it has proven effective in treating over 20 types of skin and soft tissue diseases. This positions it as one of the most promising medical technologies of the decade.

Plasma Sterilization and Disinfection

One of the most mature uses of cold plasma is the sterilization of medical instruments, surfaces, and air. This technology can replace traditional methods-thermal treatment, autoclaving, and chemical disinfection-making the process faster, safer, and more eco-friendly.

How Plasma Sterilization Works

Cold plasma streams contain reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) that break down bacterial and viral cell membranes, oxidize proteins, and damage their DNA. The process temperature stays below 40 °C, allowing sterilization of plastic, optical, and electronic instruments sensitive to heat.

Advantages of Plasma Sterilization

• Destroys all known microorganisms, including spores, mycobacteria, and fungi
• Leaves no toxic residues, unlike chlorine or alcohol solutions
• Reduces processing time to 5-10 minutes
• Requires minimal consumables

This technology is already implemented in hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical, and food enterprises where chemical-free sterility is essential.

Additionally, plasma systems are used to disinfect air and surfaces in various facilities. They efficiently neutralize viruses, including coronavirus and influenza, making them highly relevant in the post-pandemic era.

Cold plasma is gradually becoming the new standard for sterilization by combining safety, speed, and environmental friendliness-three core demands of modern medicine.

Cold Plasma in Ecology and Environmental Purification

Beyond medicine, cold plasma is being actively adopted in environmental technologies for air, water, and industrial emission purification. Its high reactivity allows it to break down toxic compounds without chemical reagents.

1. Air purification.

   Plasma units effectively remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and odors. They oxidize pollutants into harmless substances-water and carbon dioxide. This technology is already used at factories, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants.

2. Water disinfection.

   Cold plasma streams destroy bacteria, viruses, and microalgae in water without chlorine or UV. They also break down nitrates, microplastics, and organic toxins, offering a promising alternative to traditional filters and chemicals.

3. Industrial waste remediation.

   Low-temperature plasma reactors break down complex chemicals-from petroleum products to pharmaceutical residues. Some systems even recover valuable elements like sulfur and carbon, making the process economically attractive.

4. Agriculture.

   Cold plasma treats seeds and soil, enhancing disease resistance and germination without pesticides. This is becoming part of the eco-friendly farming movement.

Thus, cold plasma is becoming a universal tool in environmental engineering, combining cleaning, disinfection, and resource recovery functions.

The Future of Cold Plasma Technologies

Cold plasma is rapidly evolving from a laboratory phenomenon into one of the key technologies of the 21st century. In the coming years, it will play a major role in medicine, environmental protection, and industrial purification by uniting performance with ecological safety.

Experts predict the global cold plasma market will exceed $10 billion by 2030, with next-generation devices in every hospital and most production facilities. Portable plasma generators are already in development, capable of sterilizing wounds and tools in the field within seconds.

In medicine, cold plasma could become the basis for non-invasive therapies, including tumor destruction and tissue regeneration. In environmental protection, it promises to be the main tool for water disinfection, air purification, and waste disposal without harming nature.

The main advantage of this technology is its versatility: the same physical phenomenon can be used in surgery, agriculture, and industrial filtration. In essence, cold plasma has become a bridge between physics and biology, demonstrating how science can solve real-world problems without harming the environment.