Plasma therapy for boosting the immune system
Are you suffering from osteoarthritis and chronic healing problems? Plasma therapy can help you. But how does it work? Plasma therapy is a broad term that covers several different medical treatments, all of which use the unique properties of plasma, either the liquid component of blood or the fourth state of matter (ionized gas).
It plays a vital role in boosting the immune system and fighting infections, especially during pandemics like COVID-19. The process involves drawing blood from a patient or donor, separating the plasma through a centrifuge, and then infusing it back into the patient’s bloodstream.
Plasma therapy is also used in treating autoimmune diseases, trauma, and certain neurological conditions. From a patient’s perspective, the procedure is similar to a blood donation, safe, minimally invasive, and usually well-tolerated.
It offers hope for many suffering from severe illnesses by harnessing the body’s natural defenses. As research advances, plasma therapy continues to prove its importance in modern medicine. You can learn more and scope of treating chronic diseases in Asia.
Biological Plasma Therapy (Blood-Based)
This is the most common form of plasma therapy. It uses the liquid part of your blood, which carries vital proteins, antibodies, and growth factors.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Commonly known as vampire therapy, PRP uses a concentrated dose of your own platelets to accelerate healing.
How it works: A doctor draws your blood and spins it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets. These platelets are then injected into an injured area (like a torn ligament or a balding scalp).
The Logic: Platelets contain growth factors that act as chemical signals, telling your body to rush reparative cells to the site of the injury.
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)
It is often termed as blood washing. The PTE is a blood purification procedure performed outside the body for treating Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), Guillain-Barré syndrome, and Myasthenia Gravis.
Schematic view of therapeutic plasma exchange
How it works: During the process, the plasma is filtered and then replaced with fluids such as albumin or donor plasma for treatments.
The Logic: It physically removes bad antibodies or toxins that your immune system is mistakenly producing to attack your own body.
Physical Plasma Therapy (Cold Atmospheric Plasma)
Physical Plasma Therapy, specifically Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP), is a medical technology that uses ionized gas at or near room temperature (40°C) to treat biological tissues. Often called the fourth state of matter, this plasma is generated by applying high-frequency electric fields to gases like argon, helium, or ambient air.
Cold Atmospheric Plasma Adopted from Busco et al. 2020
How does it work?
The primary logic behind CAP is the generation of a complex cocktail of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS) (For details, you can read the article by Bhatt et al., 2025, such as nitric oxide (NO) and ozone (O3).
The Logic: The plasma generates Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS). In small doses, these species kill bacteria (even antibiotic-resistant ones) and stimulate skin cells to regenerate without damaging healthy tissue.
Antimicrobial Action: These species induce oxidative stress that ruptures the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Because the mechanism is physical rather than chemical, it is effective against antibiotic-resistant strains (e.g., MRSA) (https://activcellgroup.com/en/cold-plasma-in-medicine/).
Regeneration: In low doses, CAP stimulates human cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes) to migrate and proliferate, while simultaneously triggering angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth).
Future Prospects of CPA
By 2026, the field will have expanded from wound care into Surgical Oncology Ablation, where plasma selectively induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in tumour cells while sparing healthy tissue. Additionally, the development of wearable plasma patches and AI-driven dosing allows for personalised, continuous treatment for chronic ulcers.
Comparison of Common Plasma Therapies
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) uses concentrated platelets from a patient's blood to promote healing and tissue regeneration. TPE (Therapeutic Plasma Exchange) removes harmful substances from plasma and replaces it with healthy fluids, treating autoimmune and blood disorders. Cold Plasma therapy employs ionized gas at low temperatures to accelerate tissue healing, reduce pain, and eliminate bacteria. These therapies offer innovative options for healing and disease management.
Success stories
Knee Osteoarthritis: The Regeneration Breakthrough
The focus has shifted toward Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritis Drugs (DMOADs), which aim to reverse cartilage loss rather than just masking pain.
Key 2026 Results & Trials
Gerozyme Inhibition (Stanford Discovery): A landmark study published in late 2025/early 2026 identified a protein called 15-PGDH (a "gerozyme") that drives cartilage loss. Trials show that blocking this protein can regenerate naturally occurring cartilage in older subjects. Oral and injectable versions are currently in human trials to eliminate the need for joint replacements.
PCRX-201 (Gene Therapy): Topline 52-week data from Phase 2 trials in early 2026 show that this intra-articular gene therapy provides sustained pain relief and potentially alters the inflammatory environment of the knee joint.
Joinst F (Natural-Origin Phase 3): A Phase 3 study involving 278 patients was completed in March 2026 for a high-dose, natural-origin drug (Clematis/Trichosanthes/Prunella). It demonstrated pain relief and functional improvement equivalent to traditional NSAIDs but with a significantly better long-term safety profile.
SK Chemicals said that it has launched Joinst-Filmtab 300 mg (Joinst F), a version of its osteoarthritis drug "Joinst" with a higher amount of the active ingredient.
Chronic Wound Healing: The Bio-Electric and Cellular Frontier
Chronic wounds (diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers) are now being treated with "active" technologies that jump-start the body’s stalled healing process.
Key 2026 Results & Trials
Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP): The PLASANAGENESIS trial (NCT06964048) is evaluating the Plasana One® device. Interim results in 2026 suggest that adding CAP to standard care significantly accelerates the closure of refractory venous leg ulcers by eradicating bacterial biofilms and inducing angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth).
Fibroblast Spheroid Therapy (CYWC628): Trials in early 2026 have shown that proprietary fibroblast spheroids can produce a four-fold increase in IL-10 (a healing cytokine). This therapy is being fast-tracked for severe burns and chronic diabetic wounds to reduce scarring and speed up tissue repair.
Concurrent Optical and Magnetic Stimulation (COMS): A new Phase 2 trial (NCT06528873) is testing a device that combines red/near-infrared light with magnetic stimulation. The logic is to activate mitochondrial respiration in skin cells, providing the "energy" needed for therapy-refractory wounds to finally close.
Comparison of Treatment Success Rates
Gerozyme inhibitors show promising success in aging-related therapies by targeting senescence pathways, with moderate success rates. Gene therapy has achieved notable success in treating genetic disorders, with some treatments reaching over 80% efficacy. Cold plasma therapy demonstrates high success in wound healing, especially in chronic ulcers, with success rates around 70-80%. Fibroblast spheroids are effective in tissue regeneration, showing promising success in regenerative medicine applications, though exact rates vary by study.
Scope of plasma treatments in Asia
At present, Asia has become a global powerhouse for knee osteoarthritis (OA) clinical trials, particularly in regenerative cell therapy and low-dose radiation. While Western trials often focus on pain management, Asian centres (especially in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan) are aggressively pursuing Disease-Modifying treatments that aim to regrow cartilage.
Below are the specific trials and regional breakthroughs currently active or recently completed in Asia.
South Korea: The Epicentre of Cell & Radiation Therapy
South Korea currently leads in off-the-shelf (allogeneic) stem cell solutions.
AlloJoin® Phase III Trial: This is a pivotal study in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. It uses an "off-the-shelf" stem cell product designed to suppress inflammation and repair cartilage. It is currently one of the most advanced regenerative medicine trials in the region.
Status: Phase III active (2026).
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT): A multi-centre study at Seoul University College of Medicine recently validated that low-dose radiation (3 Gy over six fractions) significantly reduces pain and improves function for mild-to-moderate OA without the need for supplemental drugs.
Status: Results validated in 2025/early 2026; follow-up visits ongoing.
TG-C (TissueGene-C): Although being developed by the U.S.-based Kolon TissueGene, significant clinical activity and data analysis are centred in Korea. This cell-gene therapy targets structural joint changes.
Status: Data analysis beginning March 2026; top-line results expected July 2026.
Taiwan & Southeast Asia: Allogeneic Breakthroughs
Taiwan has recently approved high-level trials that are expanding into Singapore and the broader APAC region.
Chondrochymal Phase III: Approved by the TFDA (Taiwan), this trial uses revitalized allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.
Focus: It aims to recruit 222 patients at Taichung Veterans General Hospital.
Prospects: The trial is part of a multinational effort (led by Singapore’s Senectus) to establish a regenerative medicine footprint across Southeast Asia.
Adipose-Derived Stem Cell (ADSC) Study: A prospective study at Suranaree University of Technology Hospital (Thailand) recently compared autologous ADSC injections to hyaluronic acid.
Result: ADSC showed superior cartilage restoration on MRI and sustained functional improvement over 6 months.
Japan: The "High-Dose" Protocol
Japan’s regulatory environment for regenerative medicine (the SAKIGAKE designation) has accelerated local clinical availability.
Cell Grand Clinic (Osaka): Currently implementing a high-dose protocol identified in 2025 research, delivering exactly 100 million autologous adipose-derived stem cells per joint.
Trial Logic: Research indicates that the high-dose threshold is critical for moving from "pain relief" to biological repair.
Cartistem Phase III: A long-standing South Korean success, this cord-blood-derived therapy is currently in a Phase III trial in Japan to seek local regulatory approval.
China: Metabolism & Traditional Integration
Lipid Metabolism Pathogenesis Study: A new 2026 study (ChiCTR26000303767) is recruiting participants to explore how abnormal lipid metabolism affects knee OA, aiming to find new gene targets for early prevention.
Zushima Plaster Multi-Center Study: A large-scale trial evaluating a traditional-origin herbal plaster (Zushima) against standard NSAID patches to provide a non-systemic, low-side-effect alternative for pain.
Summary and Future Prospects: Where are we headed?
By the end of this decade, plasma therapy is projected to reach several major milestones:
Surgical Oncology Ablation: Cold plasma is being developed as a precision scalpel to kill microscopic cancer cells left behind after a tumour is removed, significantly reducing the risk of recurrence.
Anti-Aging & Longevity: Therapeutic Plasma Exchange is being studied as a rejuvenation therapy. By removing "aged" plasma and replacing it with younger components, researchers aim to slow cognitive decline and Alzheimer's progression.
Smart Dressings: Engineers are creating plasma-activated bandages that can slowly release healing ions into a wound over several days, potentially eliminating the need for daily dressing changes for diabetic ulcers.
AI-Integrated Dosing: AI models are now used to analyze a patient's blood profile in real-time to determine the exact concentration of platelets or replacement fluids needed for optimal healing.