Editorial–special issue on application of cold atmospheric plasma in human and veterinary disease

Abstract Plasma medicine is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field that combines plasma science and engineering, chemistry, biology, and medicine. This special issue focuses on various ways to apply cold atmospheric pressure plasma in translating plasma technology into clinical applications. Ongoing research on the redox-based mechanism of plasma action, the concept of ‘plasma dose’ and device control is critical for advancing plasma medicine. As these applications move toward the clinic, ensuring the reproducibility and quality control of plasma sources is essential. The articles in this issue present examples of both direct and indirect plasma applications, with indirect treatments describing cell exposure to plasma-treated liquids. The difference between direct and indirect approaches lies in the concept of ‘plasma dose.’ In direct treatment, all plasma effectors (e.g. electric field, UV radiation, reactive species) are involved, whereas indirect treatment only involves stable chemical species in the treated liquid, making it more difficult to define the correct ‘dose’ for a specific application. However, the studies in this issue suggest that it is possible to identify control parameters that lead to specific outcomes needed to guide the operator.