A ‘tissue model’ to study the plasma delivery of reactive oxygen species

Abstract

We demonstrate the utility of a 'tissue model' to monitor the delivery of plasma jet-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). We report on helium plasma jet interactions both across the surface and into the subsurface (defined as 150μm to 1.5 mm) of the tissue model. The model comprises a gelatin gel encapsulating a homogeneously dispersed chemical or biological reporter molecule. Jet-surface interactions result in (i) star shaped patterns that resemble those previously reported for surface-plasma streamers on insulators (as imaged by Pockels sensing) and (ii) 'filled' or hollow circular surface features, which resemble the 'killing' patterns seen in plasma jet treatments of bacterial lawns.