Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Hao Zhang; Xixi Jing; Zewei Wang; Tong Wu; Chengbiao Ding; Dingxin Liu; Jishen Zhang; Yuan Zhao; Li Guo; Yumin Xia; Mingzhe Rong; Qian Liu; Yin Xiao; Xiaolin Zhang; Paul K. Chu

doi:10.1021/acsami.5c23080

Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Hao Zhang
, Xixi Jing
, Zewei Wang
, Tong Wu
, Chengbiao Ding
, Dingxin Liu^*
, Jishen Zhang
, Yuan Zhao
, Li Guo
, Yumin Xia
, Mingzhe Rong
, Qian Liu^*
, Yin Xiao
, Xiaolin Zhang
, Paul K. Chu^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Chronic wound repair requires strategies integrating anti-infection, anti-inflammation, and tissue regeneration across wound healing stages. Nevertheless, few therapeutic approaches can incorporate all of these strategies. Although cold atmospheric plasma can regulate cell physiology and pathology through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and is promising in wound healing applications, how to store and deliver optimal RONS to chronic wound sites is highly challenging. Herein, the air discharge plasma-activated sodium alginate hydrosol (PAHSA) is used to carry RONS to accomplish integrated chronic wound treatment. In vitro results demonstrate that abundant aqueous RONS are incorporated into PAHSA by gas–liquid reactions between the plasma and sodium alginate hydrosol. PAHSA, boasting promising RONS storage and slow-release properties, shows phased RONS-mediated sterilization, macrophage polarization regulation, and cell migration. Moreover, in the animal model with chronic wound healing, PAHSA reduces bacterial infection through a controlled local inflammatory reaction and promotes growth factor release to stimulate tissue regeneration. Continuous delivery of RONS with gradient concentrations is biocompatible and shows no systemic toxicity. This study demonstrates that the natural decay of plasma-generated RONS can be temporally matched to the dynamic needs of the healing process, underscoring the clinical potential of plasma-activated hydrosols in integrated chronic wound treatment.

© 2026 American Chemical Society

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	16056–16068
Number of pages	13
Journal	ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Volume	18
Issue number	11
Online published	16 Mar 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c23080
Publication status	Published - 25 Mar 2026

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 52277231, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University, City University of Hong Kong Donation Research Grants (No. DON-RMG 9229021 and No. 9229021), as well as Guangdong–Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme (TCFS GHP/212/22GD and CityU 9440399).

Research Keywords

cold atmospheric plasma
plasma-activated hydrosols
reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
chronic wounds
integrated therapy

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1021/acsami.5c23080

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Cite this

Zhang, H., Jing, X., Wang, Z., Wu, T., Ding, C., Liu, D., Zhang, J., Zhao, Y., Guo, L., Xia, Y., Rong, M., Liu, Q., Xiao, Y., Zhang, X., & Chu, P. K. (2026). Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 18(11), 16056–16068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c23080

@article{22fa5c10a0d4401ba629093365f0e1ca,

title = "Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds",

abstract = "Chronic wound repair requires strategies integrating anti-infection, anti-inflammation, and tissue regeneration across wound healing stages. Nevertheless, few therapeutic approaches can incorporate all of these strategies. Although cold atmospheric plasma can regulate cell physiology and pathology through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and is promising in wound healing applications, how to store and deliver optimal RONS to chronic wound sites is highly challenging. Herein, the air discharge plasma-activated sodium alginate hydrosol (PAHSA) is used to carry RONS to accomplish integrated chronic wound treatment. In vitro results demonstrate that abundant aqueous RONS are incorporated into PAHSA by gas–liquid reactions between the plasma and sodium alginate hydrosol. PAHSA, boasting promising RONS storage and slow-release properties, shows phased RONS-mediated sterilization, macrophage polarization regulation, and cell migration. Moreover, in the animal model with chronic wound healing, PAHSA reduces bacterial infection through a controlled local inflammatory reaction and promotes growth factor release to stimulate tissue regeneration. Continuous delivery of RONS with gradient concentrations is biocompatible and shows no systemic toxicity. This study demonstrates that the natural decay of plasma-generated RONS can be temporally matched to the dynamic needs of the healing process, underscoring the clinical potential of plasma-activated hydrosols in integrated chronic wound treatment. {\textcopyright} 2026 American Chemical Society",

keywords = "cold atmospheric plasma, plasma-activated hydrosols, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, chronic wounds, integrated therapy",

author = "Hao Zhang and Xixi Jing and Zewei Wang and Tong Wu and Chengbiao Ding and Dingxin Liu and Jishen Zhang and Yuan Zhao and Li Guo and Yumin Xia and Mingzhe Rong and Qian Liu and Yin Xiao and Xiaolin Zhang and Chu, \{Paul K.\}",

year = "2026",

month = mar,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1021/acsami.5c23080",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

pages = "16056–16068",

journal = "ACS Applied Materials \& Interfaces",

issn = "1944-8244",

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}

Zhang, H, Jing, X, Wang, Z, Wu, T, Ding, C, Liu, D, Zhang, J, Zhao, Y, Guo, L, Xia, Y, Rong, M, Liu, Q, Xiao, Y, Zhang, X & Chu, PK 2026, 'Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds', ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 18, no. 11, pp. 16056–16068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c23080

Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds. / Zhang, Hao; Jing, Xixi; Wang, Zewei et al.
In: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Vol. 18, No. 11, 25.03.2026, p. 16056–16068.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds

AU - Zhang, Hao

AU - Jing, Xixi

AU - Wang, Zewei

AU - Wu, Tong

AU - Ding, Chengbiao

AU - Liu, Dingxin

AU - Zhang, Jishen

AU - Zhao, Yuan

AU - Guo, Li

AU - Xia, Yumin

AU - Rong, Mingzhe

AU - Liu, Qian

AU - Xiao, Yin

AU - Zhang, Xiaolin

AU - Chu, Paul K.

PY - 2026/3/25

Y1 - 2026/3/25

N2 - Chronic wound repair requires strategies integrating anti-infection, anti-inflammation, and tissue regeneration across wound healing stages. Nevertheless, few therapeutic approaches can incorporate all of these strategies. Although cold atmospheric plasma can regulate cell physiology and pathology through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and is promising in wound healing applications, how to store and deliver optimal RONS to chronic wound sites is highly challenging. Herein, the air discharge plasma-activated sodium alginate hydrosol (PAHSA) is used to carry RONS to accomplish integrated chronic wound treatment. In vitro results demonstrate that abundant aqueous RONS are incorporated into PAHSA by gas–liquid reactions between the plasma and sodium alginate hydrosol. PAHSA, boasting promising RONS storage and slow-release properties, shows phased RONS-mediated sterilization, macrophage polarization regulation, and cell migration. Moreover, in the animal model with chronic wound healing, PAHSA reduces bacterial infection through a controlled local inflammatory reaction and promotes growth factor release to stimulate tissue regeneration. Continuous delivery of RONS with gradient concentrations is biocompatible and shows no systemic toxicity. This study demonstrates that the natural decay of plasma-generated RONS can be temporally matched to the dynamic needs of the healing process, underscoring the clinical potential of plasma-activated hydrosols in integrated chronic wound treatment. © 2026 American Chemical Society

AB - Chronic wound repair requires strategies integrating anti-infection, anti-inflammation, and tissue regeneration across wound healing stages. Nevertheless, few therapeutic approaches can incorporate all of these strategies. Although cold atmospheric plasma can regulate cell physiology and pathology through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and is promising in wound healing applications, how to store and deliver optimal RONS to chronic wound sites is highly challenging. Herein, the air discharge plasma-activated sodium alginate hydrosol (PAHSA) is used to carry RONS to accomplish integrated chronic wound treatment. In vitro results demonstrate that abundant aqueous RONS are incorporated into PAHSA by gas–liquid reactions between the plasma and sodium alginate hydrosol. PAHSA, boasting promising RONS storage and slow-release properties, shows phased RONS-mediated sterilization, macrophage polarization regulation, and cell migration. Moreover, in the animal model with chronic wound healing, PAHSA reduces bacterial infection through a controlled local inflammatory reaction and promotes growth factor release to stimulate tissue regeneration. Continuous delivery of RONS with gradient concentrations is biocompatible and shows no systemic toxicity. This study demonstrates that the natural decay of plasma-generated RONS can be temporally matched to the dynamic needs of the healing process, underscoring the clinical potential of plasma-activated hydrosols in integrated chronic wound treatment. © 2026 American Chemical Society

KW - cold atmospheric plasma

KW - plasma-activated hydrosols

KW - reactive oxygen and nitrogen species

KW - chronic wounds

KW - integrated therapy

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001715724700001

U2 - 10.1021/acsami.5c23080

DO - 10.1021/acsami.5c23080

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1944-8244

VL - 18

SP - 16056

EP - 16068

JO - ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

JF - ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

IS - 11

ER -

Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Abstract

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Research Keywords

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ITF: Development of Key Technology to Attain a Novel Kind of Guided Bone Regeneration Membrane for Oral Implantology

DON_RMG: Fabrication, Characterization, and Properties of Functional Materials - RMGS

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Air Discharge Plasma-Activated Hydrosols with Phased RONS-Mediated Anti-Infection, Anti-Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling Effects for the Integrated Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

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Projects

ITF: Development of Key Technology to Attain a Novel Kind of Guided Bone Regeneration Membrane for Oral Implantology

DON_RMG: Fabrication, Characterization, and Properties of Functional Materials - RMGS

Cite this