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 150 mu m 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.

The use of reporter molecules show that plasma can deliver ROS from 150 mu m to 1.5 mm below the tissue surface. Subsurface delivery of ROS is consistent with the use of plasma to decontaminate wounds (covered by wound exudate and clotted blood), the deactivation of whole biofilms, plasma-enhanced drug delivery through skin and the destruction of solid tumours.

From the data presented, we argue that in these four cases (and others) ROS may be capable of directly accessing a tissue's subsurface, as opposed to other proposed mechanisms, which involve stimulating surface reactions that trigger a cascade of biomolecular signalling events (into the tissue).