The Viromed Medical AG, led by CEO Uwe Perbandt, initiated and funds this project, entrusting the scientific leadership to Prof. Dr. Hortense Slevogt, a BREATH scientist at Hannover Medical School, due to her outstanding expertise. The study aims to obtain special approval for this groundbreaking technology.

VAP is a common and serious complication in mechanically ventilated patients, occurring in patients who are invasively ventilated for at least 48 hours. Studies show that VAP affects 23–36% of mechanically ventilated patients and is associated with prolonged ventilation, extended ICU and hospital stays, and an estimated mortality rate of 10–13%. In Germany alone, approximately 486,000 patients required mechanical ventilation in ICUs in 2023, highlighting the need for VAP prevention measures.

Cold plasma is an ionized gas with antimicrobial properties, leveraging free electrons, radicals, ions, and reactive species generated from air. These short-lived but highly effective radicals have already proven successful in treating chronic and hard-to-heal wounds.

Since October 2023, Hannover Medical School (MHH) and BREATH, in collaboration with and on behalf of Viromed Medical AG, have been investigating the safety profile of cold plasma in models of airway mucosa infected with bacteria. The research focuses on the potential of cold plasma to kill bacteria infecting the epithelium, while also examining associated inflammatory responses, cell differentiation changes, cell death, DNA damage, therapeutic dosage, and application timeframes. To optimize the efficacy of various plasma compositions, their effects on cells and potential damage are being studied in detail.

Due to promising preliminary results indicating no harmful effects on airway epithelium, a second study originally planned for mid-2025 has already commenced.
This follow-up study, also funded by Viromed Medical AG and led by BREATH scientist Prof. Slevogt, extends the safety profile investigations of cold plasma to alveolar epithelium, considering the mechanical shear forces acting on alveolar mucosa during breathing. The study will also test the potential and safety of cold plasma in eliminating bacteria applied to pulmonary epithelium and precision-cut lung slices (PCLS).

“Ventilator-associated pneumonia not only has a high mortality rate but also places a significant burden on the healthcare system due to increased antibiotic use, longer patient stays, and higher treatment costs,” says Prof. Slevogt. She highlights the potential of this method in addressing resistance issues: “The growing antibiotic resistance of pathogens makes new, non-antibiotic approaches urgently necessary. If the positive preliminary results of our study are confirmed, demonstrating the safety of cold physical plasma in human lungs, cold plasma could revolutionize the treatment of ventilated patients.”
 

Text: Viromed/ BREATH AB

Photo: private