Perturbation of human skin due to application of high voltage

Experimental Factors to Be Considered in Electroporation-Mediated Transdermal Diffusion Experiments

In this paper, we discuss some of the primary experimental factors that should be considered when interpreting and implementing the published results of skin electroporation studies concerning measurements of mass transport across the stratum corneum (SC) in the Franz cell. It is explained that the pulse magnitude should always be considered in the context of pulse shape and that transport measurements should always be presented in the context of the trans-SC potential difference (instead of the voltage between the electrodes). The condition of the SC prior to the application of the long-duration pulse strongly influences the evolution of the local transport region (LTR). This is quantified in a simple analytical investigation of the conditions that affect the thermodynamic response of the skin.

Transdermal transport pathway creation: Electroporation pulse order

In this study we consider the physics underlying electroporation which is administered to skin in order to radically increase transdermal drug delivery. The method involves the application of intense electric fields to alter the structure of the impermeable outer layer, the stratum corneum. A generally held view in the field of skin electroporation is that the skin's drop in resistance (to transport) is proportional to the total power of the pulses (which may be inferred by the number of pulses administered). Contrary to this belief, experiments conducted in this study show that the application of high voltage pulses prior to the application of low voltage pulses result in lower transport than when low voltage pulses alone are applied (when less total pulse power is administered). In order to reconcile these unexpected experimental results, a computational model is used to conduct an analysis which shows that the high density distribution of very small aqueous pathways through the stratum corneum associated with high voltage pulses is detrimental to the evolution of larger pathways that are associated with low voltage pulses.

Skin electroporation for transdermal drug delivery: the influence of the order of different square wave electric pulses

Electroporation can be used as an active enhancement method for intra- and transdermal drug delivery. Differences in response of skin to electric pulses depend on their amplitude, duration and number and have been a point of interest in the past. While protocols consisting of the same repetitive, mostly exponentially decaying pulses have been used before, this study is focused on comparing different combinations of square wave short high voltage (HV) and longer low voltage (LV) electroporation pulses. Our in vitro experimental results show that longer LV pulses significantly increase subsequent passive transport of calcein through dermatomed pig skin, while short HV pulses alone result in negligible calcein passive transdermal transport. Surprisingly, when the long LV pulses are preceded by short duration HV pulses, the total calcein transported is reduced significantly. This result is explained using a theoretical physics based model of individual local transport region (LTR) evolution during the applied LV pulse. The theoretical model shows that HV pulses alter the structure of the stratum corneum in such a way that when the LV pulses are applied, insufficient thermal energy is generated to initiate LTR expansion. Together, the experimental results and theoretical predictions show that the total pulse energy alone cannot account for total solute transport: that the order of the types of pulses administered must also be considered. Our findings open a direction for further improvement of the method using new protocols.

Delivery of intracellular-acting biologics in pro-apoptotic therapies

The recent elucidation of molecular regulators of apoptosis and their roles in cellular oncogenesis has motivated the development of biomacromolecular anticancer therapeutics that can activate intracellular apoptotic signaling pathways. Pharmaceutical scientists have employed a variety of classes of biologics toward this goal, including antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, small interfering RNA, proteins, antibodies, and peptides. However, stability in the in vivo environment, tumor-specific biodistribution, cell internalization, and localization to the intracellular microenvironment where the targeted molecule is localized pose significant challenges that limit the ability to directly apply intracellular-acting, pro-apoptotic biologics for therapeutic use. Thus, approaches to improve the pharmaceutical properties of therapeutic biomacromolecules are of great significance and have included chemically modifying the bioactive molecule itself or formulation with auxiliary compounds. Recently, promising advances in delivery of pro-apoptotic biomacromolecular agents have been made using tools such as peptide "stapling", cell penetrating peptides, fusogenic peptides, liposomes, nanoparticles, smart polymers, and synergistic combinations of these components. This review will discuss the molecular mediators of cellular apoptosis, the respective mechanisms by which these mediators are dysregulated in cellular oncogenesis, the history and development of both nucleic-acid and amino-acid based drugs, and techniques to achieve intracellular delivery of these biologics. Finally, recent applications where pro-apoptotic functionality has been achieved through delivery of intracellular-acting biomacromolecular drugs will be highlighted.

Local temperature rises influence in vivo electroporation pore development: a numerical stratum corneum lipid phase transition model

Electroporation is an approach used to enhance transdermal transport of large molecules in which the skin is exposed to a series of electric pulses. Electroporation temporarily destabilizes the structure of the outer skin layer, the stratum corneum, by creating microscopic pores through which agents, ordinarily unable to pass into the skin, are able to pass through this outer barrier. Long duration electroporation pulses can cause localized temperature rises, which result in thermotropic phase transitions within the lipid bilayer matrix of the stratum corneum. This paper focuses on electroporation pore development resulting from localized Joule heating. This study presents a theoretical model of electroporation, which incorporates stratum corneum lipid melting with electrical and thermal energy equations. A transient finite volume model is developed representing electroporation of in vivo human skin, in which stratum corneum lipid phase transitions are modeled as a series of melting processes. The results confirm that applied voltage to the skin results in high current densities within the less resistive regions of the stratum corneum. The model captures highly localized Joule heating within the stratum corneum and subsequent temperature rises, which propagate radially outward. Electroporation pore development resulting from the decrease in resistance associated with lipid melting is captured by the lipid phase transition model. As the effective pore radius grows, current density and subsequent Joule heating values decrease.

Feasibility of an electrode-reservoir device for transdermal drug delivery by noninvasive skin electroporation

Electrical creation of aqueous pathways across the skin's outer layer [stratum corneum (SC)] provides an approach to transdermal delivery of medium-size water-soluble compounds. However, nerve stimulation should be avoided. Here, we show that a microstructured electrode array can significantly confine the electric field to the nerve-free SC. The prototype electrode-reservoir device (ERD) contains field-confining electrodes and a fluorescent drug surrogate [sulphorhodamine (SR)]. In vivo human experiments at the forearm with approximately rectangular voltage pulses up to 500 V and 1-ms duration cause electroporation as measured by skin resistance change but only rarely caused sensation. Human skin in vitro experiments with such pulses up to 300 V transported SR across the SC. Our results are supported by a model's prediction of the field in the ERD and nearby tissue.

A propagating heat wave model of skin electroporation

The main barrier to transdermal drug delivery in human skin is the stratum corneum. Pulsed electric fields (PEFs) of sufficient amplitude can create new aqueous pathways across this barrier and enhance drug delivery through the skin. Here, we describe a model of pore formation between adjacent corneocytes that predicts the following sequence of events: (1) the PEF rapidly charges the stratum corneum near the electrode until the transepidermal potential difference is large enough to drive water into a small region of the stratum corneum, creating new aqueous pathways. (2) PEFs then drive a high current density through this newly created electropore to generate Joule heating that warms the pore perimeter. (3) This temperature rise at the perimeter increases the probability of further electroporation there as the local sphingolipids reach their phase transition temperature. (4) This heat-generated wave of further electroporation propagates outward until the surface area of the pore becomes so large that the reduced current density no longer generates sufficient heat to reach the phase transition temperature of the sphingolipids. (5) Cooling and partial recovery occurs after the field pulse. This process yields large, high permeability regions in the stratum corneum at which molecules can more readily cross this skin barrier. We present a model for this process that predicts that the initial radius of the first aqueous pathway is approximately 5nm for a transdermal voltage of 60V at room temperature.

Experimental evidence of improved transthoracic defibrillation with electroporation-enhancing pulses

There is considerable work on defibrillation wave form optimization. This paper determines the impedance changes during defibrillation, then uses that information to derive the optimum defibrillation wave form.

METHODS PART I

Twelve guinea pigs and six swine were used to measure the current wave form for square voltage pulses of a strength which would defibrillate about 50% of the time. In guinea pigs, electrodes were placed thoracically, abdominally and subcutaneously using two electrode materials (zinc and steel) and two electrode pastes (Core-gel and metallic paste).

RESULTS PART I

The measured current wave form indicated an exponentially increasing conductance over the first 3 ms, consistent with enhanced electroporation or another mechanism of time-dependent conductance. We fit this current with a parallel conductance composed of a time-independent component (g0 = 1.22 +/- 0.28 mS) and a time-dependent component described by g delta (1-e(-t/tau)), where g delta = 0.95 +/- 0.20 mS and tau = 0.82 +/- 0.17 ms in guinea pigs using zinc and Cor-gel. Different electrode placements and materials had no significant effect on this fit. From our fit, we determined the stimulating wave form that would theoretically charge the myocardial membrane to a given threshold using the least energy from the defibrillator. The solution was a very short, high voltage pulse followed immediately by a truncated ascending exponential tail.

METHODS PART II

The optimized wave forms and similar nonoptimized wave forms were tested for efficacy in 25 additional guinea pigs and six additional swine using methods similar to Part I.

RESULTS PART II

Optimized wave forms were significantly more efficacious than similar nonoptimized wave forms. In swine, a wave form with the short pulse was 41% effective while the same wave form without the short pulse was 8.3% effective (p < 0.03) despite there being only a small difference in energy (111 J versus 116 CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a short pulse preceding a defibrillation pulse significantly improves efficacy, perhaps by enhancing electroporation.

Numerical Assessment of Thermal Response Associated With In Vivo Skin Electroporation: The Importance of the Composite Skin model

Electroporation is an approach used to enhance transdermal transport of large molecules in which the skin is exposed to a series of electric pulses. The structure of the transport inhibiting outer layer, the stratum corneum, is temporarily destabilized due to the development of microscopic pores. Consequently agents that are ordinarily unable to pass into the skin are able to pass through this outer barrier. Of possible concern when exposing biological tissue to an electric field is thermal tissue damage associated with Joule heating. This paper shows the importance of using a composite model in calculating the electrical and thermal effects associated with skin electroporation. A three-dimensional transient finite-volume model of in vivo skin electroporation is developed to emphasize the importance of representing the skin’s composite layers and to illustrate the underlying relationships between the physical parameters of the composite makeup of the skin and resulting thermal damage potential.

Yeast cell inactivation related to local heating induced by low-intensity electric fields with long-duration pulses

The effects of electric field (EF) treatments on Saccharomyces cerevisiae viability were investigated using a PG200 electroporator (Hoefer Scientific Instrument, San Fransisco, CA, USA) with specific attention to induced thermal effects on cell death. Lethal electric fields (1.5 kV cm(-1) for 5 s) were shown to cause heat variations in the cell suspension medium (water+glycerol), while corresponding classical thermal treatments at equivalent temperatures had no effect on the cells viability. Variations of the electrical conductivity of the intra- and extracellular matrix caused by ions and solutes transfer across the membrane were shown to be involved in the observed heating. The results permitted to build a theoretical model for the temperature variations induced by electric fields. Using this model and the electrical conductivity of the different media, a plausible explanation of the cell death induced by low-intensity electric fields with long-duration pulses has been proposed. Indeed, cell mortality could in part be caused by direct and indirect effects of electric fields. Direct effects are related to well known electromechanical phenomena, whereas indirect effects are related to secondary thermal stress caused by plasma membrane thermoporation. This thermoporation was attributed to electrical conductivity variations and the corresponding intracellular heating.

Enhanced transdermal-immunization with diptheria-toxoid using local hyperthermia

In this study we have investigated how mild local hyperthermia could be used for transdermal-immunization. Mild hyperthermia is found unique in many ways. It activates the immune system and it also results in higher mass transport of high molecular weight molecules and nanometer size quantum dots labeled antigens across the skin in experimental animals. Hyperthermia increases the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86. Mice transdermally immunized with diphtheria toxoid, without any adjuvant or penetration enhancing reagent but under the conditions of local hyperthermia generate an antibody response. In the memory recall assay, the splenocytes of hyperthermia enhanced transdermal-immunized mice undergo proliferation, when exposed to diphtheria toxoid. Comparable response was generated when mice were immunized with diphtheria toxoid by hyperthermia enhanced transdermal route or by conventional inter-muscular injection. Hyperthermia enhanced transdermal-immunization procedure is likely to have higher compliance as it does not cause any pain or visible damage to the skin.

Numerical modeling of in vivo plate electroporation thermal dose assessment

Electroporation is an approach used to enhance the transport of large molecules to the cell cytosol in which a targeted tissue region is exposed to a series of electric pulses. The cell membrane, which normally acts as a barrier to large molecule transport into the cell interior, is temporarily destabilized due to the development of pores in the cell membrane. Consequently, agents that are ordinarily unable enter the cell are able to pass through the cell membrane. Of possible concern when exposing biological tissue to an electric field is thermal tissue damage associated with joule heating. This paper explores the thermal effects of various geometric, biological, and electroporation pulse parameters including the blood vessel presence and size, plate electrode configuration, and pulse duration and frequency. A three-dimensional transient finite volume model of in vivo parallel plate electroporation of liver tissue is used to develop a better understanding of the underlying relationships between the physical parameters involved with tissue electroporation and resulting thermal damage potential.

Local and transient structural changes in stratum corneum at high electric fields: Contribution of Joule heating

Electroporation of skin is accompanied by local heating, such that thermally induced structural changes of the stratum corneum (SC) accompany the field effect. Comparing on the time scale, the local changes in structure, temperature and conductance of the SC, during and after the pulse, it is seen that Joule heating also facilitates the subsequent molecular transport. It is found that the transport of medium-sized, ionic molecules occurs through localized transport regions (LTR). The size of a LTR increases with the pulse length, whereas the density of the LTRs increases with increasing voltage, for instance at U(SC=)80 V, the LTR cover approximately 0.02--1% of the surface area. The state of low resistance within the LTR is long-lived. During high voltage application, the center of the LTR is heated above the phase transition temperature of the SC lipids (70 degrees C) and the heat front propagates outwards. Inside the SC, the pulse causes aggregates of small-sized vesicles. At a higher temperature, the aggregate formation and their disappearance are delayed. Multiple pulses with the applied voltage of U(appl)=80 V induce the formation of long-lasting vesicle aggregates with a diameter of slashed circle=1--30 microm, covering 0.05--0.5% of the total sample area. The electric energy dissipated within the LTR during high voltage application is apparently sufficient to raise the temperature well above the phase transition temperature of the lipids of the SC, accounting for the conformational changes from the multi-lamella to the vesicular structures.

Surface area involved in transdermal transport of charged species due to skin electroporation

The electroporative effect on the stratum corneum (SC) is highly localized. However, the fractional area for the transport of small ions and larger ionic species differs considerably during and after high voltage (HV) application. Electroporation of SC creates new aqueous pathways, accessible for small ions, such as Cl(-) and Na(+) ions. The pores are distributed across the skin surface yielding a fractional area for current flow during electroporation of up to 0.1%. An increased permeability after high voltage application persists within a fractional area on the order of 10(-3)%. The permeabilization of SC for larger, charged molecules (M > 200 g/mol) involves Joule heating and a phase transition of the long chain sphingolipids within local transport regions (LTR). The transport area for these molecules (approximately 10(-3)%) changes only negligibly after high voltage application.

Temperature Influences the Postelectroporation Permeability State of the Skin

The influence of temperature on the electrical conductance and transport of macromolecules across porcine epidermis during and after electroporation were studied. The passive diffusion of fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled dextran (molecular weight 10 kDa, FD10K), across the epidermis did not differ much at temperatures below 37 degrees C, but became significantly higher above 40 degrees C. The resistance drop during pulse application was less sensitive to temperature within the temperature range (10-50 degrees C) of this study. The kinetics of decrease in postpulse conductance of the electroporated epidermis was fit to a monoexponential function. The rate of decrease in postpulse conductance was significantly less and FD10K transport was markedly high at temperature over 40 degrees C relative to those observed at temperatures less than 37 degrees C. This jump in transport cannot be explained by electrophoresis induced by the pulse, or by the increased diffusion kinesis of the molecules. The enhanced transport is most likely due to the prolonged postpulse permeable state of the skin. Electroporation at mild hyperthermia temperatures resulted in delivering much higher quantities of macromolecules.

Skin electroporation for transdermal and topical delivery

Electroporation is the transitory structural perturbation of lipid bilayer membranes due to the application of high voltage pulses. Its application to the skin has been shown to increase transdermal drug delivery by several orders of magnitude. Moreover, electroporation, used alone or in combination with other enhancement methods, expands the range of drugs (small to macromolecules, lipophilic or hydrophilic, charged or neutral molecules) which can be delivered transdermally. Molecular transport through transiently permeabilized skin by electroporation results mainly from enhanced diffusion and electrophoresis. The efficacy of transport depends on the electrical parameters and the physicochemical properties of drugs. The in vivo application of high voltage pulses is well tolerated but muscle contractions are usually induced. The electrode and patch design is an important issue to reduce the discomfort of the electrical treatment in humans.

Electrically assisted skin delivery of liposomal estradiol; phospholipid as damage retardant

This work investigated transdermal penetration of a model lipophilic drug (estradiol) through human epidermis from phosphatidylcholine (PC)-based liposomes and saturated aqueous estradiol solution (control). Representative examples of cholate-containing ultradeformable (Transfersomes), non-rigid (pure PC) and membrane-stabilized (cholesterol-containing) vesicles were used. The unilamellar vesicles' diameters and zeta potentials were determined. Transdermal penetration studies involved occluded passive penetration for 12 h and cathodic iontophoresis (0.8 mA/cm(2)) for 8 h for all systems. Combined electroporation (5 pulses, 100 V, 100 ms, 1 min spacing) and iontophoresis (0.8 mA/cm(2), for 2 h) was also employed for ultradeformable vesicles and control. Estradiol penetration parameters (flux and skin deposition) from different formulations were compared. All vesicles had essentially the same particle size, with ultradeformable liposomes showing the highest negative zeta potential (-29 mV). Occluded passive penetration improved estradiol skin penetration from liposomes relative to control. Iontophoretic studies revealed the superiority of ultradeformable vesicles regarding drug skin penetration and deposition compared to traditional liposomes. Combination of electroporation and iontophoresis did not markedly improve estradiol penetration for ultradeformable vesicles. The combination results implied repair of the skin barrier due to the penetration retarding effect of PC monomers released from liposomes.

Electroporation and ultradeformable liposomes; human skin barrier repair by phospholipid

This work investigated the effect of electroporation on human epidermal penetration of a model neutral lipophilic compound (estradiol) from saturated aqueous solution and when encapsulated in ultradeformable liposomes. Total amount penetrated and skin deposition were compared with values obtained from passive diffusion. The effect of electrical pulsing on liposome size was investigated. The action of phosphatidylcholine on skin that was structurally altered by such pulses was determined. Electroporation did not affect liposome size. Skin pulsing considerably increased estradiol penetration and skin deposition from solution, relative to passive delivery, with subsequent partial recovery of skin resistance to molecular penetration. Surprisingly, with liposomes, electroporation did not markedly affect estradiol skin penetration. Importantly, liposomal phosphatidylcholine applied during or after pulsing accelerated skin barrier repair, i.e. provided an anti-enhancer or retardant effect.

Transdermal delivery of timolol by electroporation through human skin

The purpose was to achieve therapeutic fluxes of timolol by transdermal delivery using skin electroporation. The transdermal transport of timolol through human stratum corneum was studied in three compartment diffusion cells. The electrodes, buffer composition and pulse conditions were optimized. Timolol maleate concentration in the donor compartment was 40 mg/ml. Square wave pulses were applied. Electroporation enhanced the transdermal transport of timolol by 1-2 orders of magnitude as compared to passive diffusion. Even though the current application lasted for only 10 s, the transdermal transport remained high after pulsing for at least 6 h. Higher fluxes were obtained with Pt electrodes close to the skin and a phosphate buffer. 10 pulses of 400 V-10 ms were more efficient than 10 low voltage-long duration pulses. Therapeutic fluxes of timolol (>50 microg/cm(2) per h) through human stratum corneum were achieved by electroporation.

Joule heating during solid tissue electroporation

The application of high-voltage pulses to biological tissue causes not only electroporation, a non-thermal phenomenon of pore creation within a lipid membrane due to an elevated electric field, but also significant heating. Once a biological membrane is porated, the current density increases several times, causing Joule heating. A combined experimental and theoretical study is reported. The theoretical temperature rise for a 1.25 kV cm(-1), 6 ms pulse is about 11.2 K for a tissue conductivity of 0.5 S m(-1) (i.e. myocardial tissue) during high-voltage application. Owing to the inhomogeneous electric field obtained with the use of needle electrodes, the temperature rises first at the electrodes, where the field strength reaches a maximum. Only for highly conductive tissue such as muscle was a temperature effect primarily observed in the bulk. Even if the temperature effect is biologically insignificant, it can affect the creation of stabile aqueous pathways by electroporation. The calculation of temperature distribution during high-voltage application, taking the electric field strength and the heat transfer into account, can be a useful tool for electrode optimisation.

Digression on membrane electroporation for drug and gene delivery

Membrane electroporation (ME) defines an electrical technique to render lipid membranes porous and permeable, transiently and reversibly, by external voltage pulses. Although there are numerous applications of ME to manipulate cells, organelles and tissues in cell biology, biotechnology and medicine, yet the molecular mechanism of ME is only slowly being understood. A general chemical- thermodynamical approach for the quantitative description of cell membrane electroporation has been developed to provide the framework to quantitatively rationalize electroporative cell transformation and electroporative uptake of drug-like dyes into cells, as well as electrolyte efflux from salt-filled electroporated vesicles. Mechanistically, the electroporative transfer of gene and drug-like dyes involves the coupling between an interactive contact formation of the permeates with the cell surface membrane and the structural electroporation-resealing cycle C <--> (P) where C is the closed and (P) represents a number of different porated membrane states, respectively. The experimentally accessible concentration fraction f(p) = [(P)] / ([C] + [(P)]) of porous states is related to thermodynamic and electro-mechanic parameters such as temperature and the electric field strength, membrane rigidity or curvature. The results of the theoretical approach, mainly based on electrooptical data of lipid vesicles, have been successfully used to analyze single cells and to specify conditions for the practical purpose of direct electroporative gene transfer and drug delivery, in particular in the new medical disciplines of electroporative chemotherapy and electroporative gene vaccination.

Electrically enhanced transdermal delivery of a macromolecule

The purpose of this study was to establish the delivery parameters for the enhanced transdermal delivery of dextran sulfate (MW 5000 Da). Full-thickness pig skin or epidermis separated from human cadaver skin was used. Silver-silver chloride electrodes were used to deliver the current (0.5 mA cm-2). For electroporation experiments, one or more pulses were given using an exponential decay pulse generator. The correct polarity for iontophoresis and pulsing was first established as cathode in the donor. The amount of drug delivered increased with increasing donor concentration up to a point, but not any further. The amount delivered also increased with pulse voltage, the delivery being twice as much as with iontophoresis alone (144.5+/-10.35 microg cm(-2)), when 6 pulses of 500 V were applied at time zero before iontophoresis (276+/-45.2 microg cm(-2)). It was observed that the amount delivered was a function of increasing pulse length when the apparent charge delivered was kept constant. Transport through pig skin (107.4+/-24.4 microg cm(-2)) was found to be comparable with that through human epidermis (84.9+/-18.4 microg cm(-2)). In conclusion, we have demonstrated the transdermal delivery of a 5000 Da molecular weight dextran sulfate using iontophoresis. It was also seen that iontophoretic delivery could be enhanced by simultaneous electroporation.

Temperature-dependent electrical and ultrastructural characterizations of porcine skin upon electroporation

The mechanism of high-voltage pulse-induced permeabilization of the stratum corneum, the outer layer of the skin, is still not completely understood. It has been suggested that joule heating resulting from the applied pulse may play a major role in disrupting the stratum corneum. In this study, electrical and ultrastructural measurements were conducted to examine the temperature dependence of the pulse-induced permeabilization of the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum resistance was measured using a vertical diffusion holder, with the stratum corneum placed between two electrode-containing chambers. The stratum corneum resistance was reduced manyfold during the applied pulse. The extent of resistance reduction increased with pulse voltage until reaching a threshold value, above which the resistance reduction was less dependent on the pulse voltage. The stratum corneum was more susceptible to permeabilization at high temperature, the threshold voltage being lower. The stratum corneum resistance recovered within milliseconds after a single 0.3-ms pulse. High-temperature samples had a more prolonged recovery time. Using time-resolved freeze fracture electron microscopy, aggregates of lipid vesicles were observed in all samples pulsed above the threshold voltage. The sizes and fractional areas occupied by aggregates of lipid vesicles at 4 degrees C and at 25 degrees C were measured at different time points after the applied pulse. Aggregates of vesicles persisted long after the electric resistance was recovered. After pulsing at the same voltage of 80 V, samples at 4 degrees C were found to have slightly more extensive aggregate formation initially, but recovered more rapidly than those at 25 degrees C. The more rapid recovery of the 4 degrees C samples was likely due to a lower supra-threshold voltage. Viscoelastic instability propagation created by the pulse may also play a role in the recovery of the aggregates.

Theory and in vivo application of electroporative gene delivery

Efficient and safe methods for delivering exogenous genetic material into tissues must be developed before the clinical potential of gene therapy will be realized. Recently, in vivo electroporation has emerged as a leading technology for developing nonviral gene therapies and nucleic acid vaccines (NAV). Electroporation (EP) involves the application of pulsed electric fields to cells to enhance cell permeability, resulting in exogenous polynucleotide transit across the cytoplasmic membrane. Similar pulsed electrical field treatments are employed in a wide range of biotechnological processes including in vitro EP, hybridoma production, development of transgenic animals, and clinical electrochemotherapy. Electroporative gene delivery studies benefit from well-developed literature that may be used to guide experimental design and interpretation. Both theory and experimental analysis predict that the critical parameters governing EP efficacy include cell size and field strength, duration, frequency, and total number of applied pulses. These parameters must be optimized for each tissue in order to maximize gene delivery while minimizing irreversible cell damage. By providing an overview of the theory and practice of electroporative gene transfer, this review intends to aid researchers that wish to employ the method for preclinical and translational gene therapy, NAV, and functional genomic research.