Introduction to Electroporation
Electroporation refers to the ability of electric fields to cause the formation of reversible or irreversible pores in the membranes of cells. Reversible electroporation (RE) is now in widespread use as a method of delivering chemicals and large molecules
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Introduction to Electroporation Edward W. Lee, Julie Gehl, and Stephen T. Kee
Abstract Electroporation refers to the ability of electric fields to cause the formation of reversible or irreversible pores in the membranes of cells. Reversible electroporation (RE) is now in widespread use as a method of delivering chemicals and large molecules to cells, both as a research tool and a clinical technique. Recently, irreversible electroporation (IRE) has garnered interest as a standalone ablation device that may have a role in the treatment of various cancers. This book attempts to illustrate the current state of the art of electroporation and authors a number of areas of growing interest currently being studied. Keywords Electroporation • Reversible electroporation • Irreversible electroporation • Electrochemotherapy • Gene delivery • Ablation
Electroporation Electroporation is an innovative minimally invasive technique that uses microsecond length electric pulses to alter the permeability of cell membranes forming nanoscale defects or pores [1, 2]. The use of electrical fields at certain parameters temporarily permeabilize the membrane, allowing the cells to return to its natural state afterwards, a process known as reversible electroporation (RE) [2]. The RE technology platform allows us to rethink drug and gene delivery, thereby altering the sensitivity of certain cancers to chemotherapy and gene therapy. Stronger electric fields can cause the cell membrane to permanently permeabilize, leading to cell death, in a process called irreversible electroporation (IRE) [2]. The delivery of this energy can be used to kill cancer cells and spare adjacent tissues from damage.
History of Electroporation Electroporation has lately garnered enthusiasm in the fields of biotechnology and medicine. This technique has been observed as early as the 1750s; however, the recent 30 years has seen increased research leading to implementation for medical purposes [2]. The first theoretical experiments using E.W. Lee (*) Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, B2-168, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1721, USA e-mail: [email protected] S.T. Kee et al. (eds.), Clinical Aspects of Electroporation, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8363-3_1, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011
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electroporation on the lipid bilayer were conducted in 1970’s [3–5]. As a result of these studies, Neumann et al. authored the first publication on electroporation in 1982 on gene transfer into murine cells [6]. Shortly afterwards, pulse electroporators were developed, and the phenomenon of electroporation for the delivery of molecules into cells became widespread [7–9]. In 1993, investigations by Belehradek et al. reported the first use of electroporation to increase the uptake of chemotherapeutic agents in tumors [10]. Since then, numerous studies and publications have been made on the various clinical practices of electroporation, which includes the induction
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