Electroporation is a next generation bioelectronics device. The emerging application of electroporation requires high voltage pulses having a pulse-width in the nanosecond range. The essential use of a capacitor results in an increase in the size of the electroporator circuit. This paper discusses the modification of a conventional Marx generator circuit to achieve the high voltage electroporation pulses with a minimal chip size of the circuit. The reduced capacitors are attributed to a reduction in the number of stages used to achieve the required voltage boost. The paper proposes the improved isolation between two capacitors with the usage of optocouplers. Parametric analysis is presented to define the tuneable range of the electroporator circuit. The output voltage of 49.4 V is achieved using the proposed 5-stage MOSFET circuit with an input voltage of 12 V.

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Electroporation refers to a microbiological method which involves application of electric field to cells for ameliorating the cell membranes permeability, allowing electrode arrays, drugs and chemicals to be inserted into the cells. This process requires HV pulses or signals for creating pores within the cell membrane. As these signals are less effective, nowadays, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals are extensively employed for electroporation. These signals can be exploited for constructing coveted output voltage in power amplifiers and are found to be useful for regulating power devices. Therefore, generation of top quality PWM signals is essential for achieving superior electroporation performance. Different PWM methods are available and circuit topologies employed for generating these waveforms are also different. This paper thus provides an exploratory study of distinct circuit topologies exploited for generating PWM waveforms. The review paper also provides the significance of PWM signals for electroporation. It reviews the existing circuit topologies exploited for PWM signal generation and other related studies. It also presents a circuit for PWM waveform generation. The paper then provides the substantial future directions pertaining to the study. This review article mainly educates the reader regarding existing circuit topologies for PWM signal generation, their characteristics and improvements required for developing better topologies satisfying the requisites of modern applications.