Possible Applications of Cold Atmospheric Plasma in Otorhinolaryngology: A Narrative Review

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a non-thermal ionized gas, is gaining attention in biomedicine due to its unique properties such as the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), immunomodulatory effects, and selective cytotoxicity. This review explores the potential of CAP as a therapeutic tool in otorhinolaryngology (ORL). CAP has shown promising applications in wound healing, pathogen eradication, and antitumor strategies, particularly in head and neck cancers. Mechanistically, CAP promotes tissue regeneration through redox signaling, stimulates immune cell activity, induces immunogenic cell death, and enhances epithelial proliferation while offering broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy. The review also discusses the development of miniaturized CAP delivery systems, including endoscope-integrated plasma jets (e.g., PLASMASKOP), to facilitate clinical use in anatomically complex ORL regions. Given the nascent stage of clinical translation in ORL, the authors highlight the need for interdisciplinary research and device innovation to realize the full therapeutic potential of CAP in this field.