Delivery and quantification of hydrogen peroxide generated via cold atmospheric pressure plasma through biological material

The ability of plasma-generated hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to traverse bacterial biofilms and the subsequent fate of the generated H₂O₂ has been investigated. An in vitro model, comprising a nanoporous membrane impregnated with artificial wound fluid and biofilms of varying maturity was treated with a helium-driven, cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) jet. The concentration of H₂O₂ generated below the biofilms was quantified. The results showed that the plasma-generated H₂O₂ interacted significantly with the biofilm, thus exhibiting a reduction in concentration across the underlying nanoporous membrane. Biofilm maturity exhibited a significant effect on the penetration depth of H₂O₂, suggesting that well established, multilayer biofilms are likely to offer a shielding effect with respect to cells located in the lower layers of the biofilm, thus rendering them less susceptible to plasma disinfection. This may prove clinically significant in the plasma treatment of chronic, deep tissue infections such as diabetic and venous leg ulcers. Our results are discussed in the context of plasma-biofilm interactions, with respect to the fate of the longer lived reactive species generated by CAP, such as H₂O₂