Short microsecond pulses achieve homogeneous electroporation of elongated biological cells irrespective of their orientation in electric field

Abstract

In gene electrotransfer and cardiac ablation with irreversible electroporation, treated muscle cells are typically of elongated shape and their orientation may vary. Orientation of cells in electric field has been reported to affect electroporation, and hence electrodes placement and pulse parameters choice in treatments for achieving homogeneous effect in tissue is important. We investigated how cell orientation influences electroporation with respect to different pulse durations (ns to ms range), both experimentally and numerically. Experimentally detected electroporation (evaluated separately for cells parallel and perpendicular to electric field) via Ca2+ uptake in H9c2 and AC16 cardiomyocytes was numerically modeled using the asymptotic pore equation. Results showed that cell orientation affects electroporation extent: using short, nanosecond pulses, cells perpendicular to electric field are significantly more electroporated than parallel (up to 100-times more pores formed), and with long, millisecond pulses, cells parallel to electric field are more electroporated than perpendicular (up to 1000-times more pores formed). In the range of a few microseconds, cells of both orientations were electroporated to the same extent. Using pulses of a few microseconds lends itself as a new possible strategy in achieving homogeneous electroporation in tissue with elongated cells of different orientation (e.g. electroporation-based cardiac ablation).

Study on Optimal Parameter and Target for Pulsed-Field Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

“…Pulse width has been studied for ablation effects in several studies. Dermol-Cerne et al compared the ablation effect for myocardial cells under ns, μs, and ms pulse width ( 18 ). Gianulis et al studied the ablation effect of PFA for different cells under ns and μs pulse width ( 17 ).…”

Recent advances in critical nodes of embryo engineering technology

“…Electroporation refers to the generation of micropores in the cell membrane under the action of a high-intensity electric field, which improves the permeability of the cell membrane 128 , 129 . The micropores produced in the cell membrane allow substances in the culture medium to enter the cells, and many manipulations of oocytes are based on this theory 130 .…”

A Novel Electroporation System for Living Cell Staining and Membrane Dynamics Interrogation

“…Under a high-voltage electric field, transient pores can be created on the cell membrane which then changes its conductivity and permeability, a process referred to as electroporation [1]. By adjusting the magnitude of the applied voltage, the number of pulses and the duration of each pulse, one can in principle control the density, size, and lifetime of membrane [2]. Depending on the ability of those pores to reseal, these pores can be classified as reversible or irreversible.…”