The use of Cold Plasma Aerosol (CAP) and Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol (CAP-A) in the realm of disinfection and dermatology: a scoping review of clinical and preclinical evidence

Aim: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol (CAP-A) are emerging subtechnologies in plasma medicine for antimicrobial therapy, wound healing and disinfection of thermolabile medical devices. This scoping review summarizes their mechanisms, performance and safety. Subject and Methods: A PRISMA-ScR-based scoping review was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for 2010–2025. Searches followed the PCC framework and included plasma-specific MeSH/Emtree terms. Eligible studies addressed CAP or CAP-A in clinical, preclinical, in vivo, ex vivo or translational antimicrobial, dermatologic, wound-related or device-disinfection contexts. Findings were synthesized into five thematic clusters. Results: Thirty-three studies were included. CAP showed consistent antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, with reductions varying by model, pathogen and exposure conditions. Clinical and pilot studies reported accelerated epithelialization, improved granulation tissue, pH normalization and reduced infection burden in chronic wounds. CAP-A achieved up to >6-log reductions in thermolabile device disinfection while preserving material compatibility. Mechanistic evidence highlighted reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as central mediators. No acute safety signals were reported, but long-term data remain limited. Conclusion: CAP and CAP-A offer promising tissue-compatible antimicrobial and regenerative approaches, but standardized reporting, multicenter studies and long-term safety evaluation are required.