Irreversible electroporation on the small intestine

Abstract

Background:Non-thermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) has recently been conceived as a new minimally invasive ablation method, using microsecond electric fields to produce nanoscale defects in the cell membrane bilayer and induce cell death while keeping all other molecules, including the extracellular matrix, intact. Here, we present the first in vivo study that examines the effects of NTIRE on the small intestine, an organ whose collateral damage is of particular concern in the anticipated use of NTIRE for treatment of abdominal cancers.Methods:A typical NTIRE electrical protocol was applied directly to the rat small intestine and histological analysis was used to examine the effect of NTIRE over time.Results:The application of NTIRE led to complete cell ablation in the targeted tissue, but the animal did not show any physiological effects of the procedure and the intestine showed signs of recovery, developing an epithelial layer 3 days post treatment and regenerating its distinct layers within a week.Conclusion:Our results indicate that this novel procedure can be used for abdominal cancer treatment while minimising collateral damage to adjacent tissues because of the unique ability of the NTIRE ablation method to target the cell membrane.

Safety and Feasibility of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) in Patients with Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Results of a Prospective Study

“…Moreover, this process leads to the creation of nanopores with a disruption of the lipid bilayer and cell death, due to apoptosis, preserving the underlying extracellular matrix [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Consequently, IRE has begun to emerge as an important ablation technique, that unlike radiofrequency [12] and microwave or laser [13] does not require the application of thermal energy, thereby preserving sensitive structures located near the tumor, such as nerves, bile ducts, vessels, and the gastrointestinal tract [14,15,16]. …”

Electroporation – Advantages and Drawbacks for Delivery of Drug, Gene and Vaccine

“…These findings indicated that IRE could not only locally destroy the tumor but also change the status of cellular immunity in osteosarcoma-bearing rats [Li et al, 2012]. Some reports indicate that this novel procedure can be used for abdominal cancer treatment while minimising collateral damage to adjacent tissues because of the unique ability of the ablation method to target the cell membrane [Phillips et al, 2012]. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a new ablative technology that uses high-voltage, low-energy DC current to create nanopores in the cell membrane, disrupting the homeostasis mechanism and inducing cell death by initiating apoptosis in patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [Narayanan et al, 2013].…”

Cell membrane electroporation-Part 2: the applications

“…The results are taken from the study reported in [67] and show that (i) immediately after NTIRE the scaffold remains intact while the cells are ablated and (ii) seven days after the tissue ablation, endothelial cells and muscle cells begin to regenerate and form new villi (thin protuberances of the small intestine, through which digested food passes into the blood). The molecular selectivity of NTIRE may find additional applications in tissue engineering [68].…”

“…Thus the activity of the immune system, which is connected to all parts of the ablated tissue through the large blood vessel scaffolds [63], is enhanced. Furthermore, the intact extracellular matrix facilitates regeneration of tissue in the liver [63], blood vessels [65], nerves [66], and small intestines [67].…”