1
|
de Caro A, Talmont F, Rols MP, Golzio M, Kolosnjaj-Tabi J. Therapeutic perspectives of high pulse repetition rate electroporation. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 156:108629. [PMID: 38159429 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Electroporation, a technique that uses electrical pulses to temporarily or permanently destabilize cell membranes, is increasingly used in cancer treatment, gene therapy, and cardiac tissue ablation. Although the technique is efficient, patients report discomfort and pain. Current strategies that aim to minimize pain and muscle contraction rely on the use of pharmacological agents. Nevertheless, technical improvements might be a valuable tool to minimize adverse events, which occur during the application of standard electroporation protocols. One recent technological strategy involves the use of high pulse repetition rate. The emerging technique, also referred as "high frequency" electroporation, employs short (micro to nanosecond) mono or bipolar pulses at repetition rate ranging from a few kHz to a few MHz. This review provides an overview of the historical background of electric field use and its development in therapies over time. With the aim to understand the rationale for novel electroporation protocols development, we briefly describe the physiological background of neuromuscular stimulation and pain caused by exposure to pulsed electric fields. Then, we summarize the current knowledge on electroporation protocols based on high pulse repetition rates. The advantages and limitations of these protocols are described from the perspective of their therapeutic application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexia de Caro
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Franck Talmont
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Rols
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Muriel Golzio
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France.
| | - Jelena Kolosnjaj-Tabi
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė E, Malyško-Ptašinskė V, Mickevičiūtė E, Kulbacka J, Rembiałkowska N, Zinkevičienė A, Novickij J, Novickij V. Calcium electroporation causes ATP depletion in cells and is effective both in microsecond and nanosecond pulse range as a modality of electrochemotherapy. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 155:108574. [PMID: 37738862 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Calcium electroporation is a modality of electrochemotherapy (ECT), which is based on intracellular electric field-mediated delivery of cytotoxic doses of calcium into the cells resulting in rapid cell death. In this work, we have developed a CHO-K1 luminescent cell line, which allowed the estimation of cell membrane permeabilization, ATP depletion and cytotoxicity evaluation without the use of additional markers and methodologies. We have shown the high efficiency of nanosecond pulses compressed into a MHz burst for application in calcium ECT treatments. The 5 kV/cm and 10 kV/cm nanosecond (100 and 600 ns) pulses were delivered in bursts of 10, 50 and 100 pulses (a total of 12 parametric protocols) and then compared to standard microsecond range sequences (100 µs × 8) of 0.4-1.4 kV/cm. The effects of calcium-free, 2 mM and 5 mM calcium electroporation treatments were characterized. It was shown that reversible electroporation is accompanied by ATP depletion associated with membrane damage, while during calcium ECT the ATP depletion is several-fold higher, which results in cell death. Finally, efficacy-wise equivalent pulse parameters from nanosecond and microsecond ranges were established, which can be used for calcium nano-ECT as a better alternative to ESOPE (European Standard Operating Procedures on Electrochemotherapy) protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eivina Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania; Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Eglė Mickevičiūtė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Nina Rembiałkowska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Auksė Zinkevičienė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jurij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania; Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lu B, Lim JM, Yu B, Song S, Neeli P, Sobhani N, K P, Bonam SR, Kurapati R, Zheng J, Chai D. The next-generation DNA vaccine platforms and delivery systems: advances, challenges and prospects. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1332939. [PMID: 38361919 PMCID: PMC10867258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1332939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccines have proven effective in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases. However, traditional attenuated and inactivated vaccines suffer from certain drawbacks such as complex preparation, limited efficacy, potential risks and others. These limitations restrict their widespread use, especially in the face of an increasingly diverse range of diseases. With the ongoing advancements in genetic engineering vaccines, DNA vaccines have emerged as a highly promising approach in the treatment of both genetic diseases and acquired diseases. While several DNA vaccines have demonstrated substantial success in animal models of diseases, certain challenges need to be addressed before application in human subjects. The primary obstacle lies in the absence of an optimal delivery system, which significantly hampers the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. We conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current status and limitations of DNA vaccines by focusing on both viral and non-viral DNA delivery systems, as they play crucial roles in the exploration of novel DNA vaccines. We provide an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses based on our critical assessment. Additionally, the review summarizes the most recent advancements and breakthroughs in pre-clinical and clinical studies, highlighting the need for further clinical trials in this rapidly evolving field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Lu
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Ming Lim
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Boyue Yu
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Siyuan Song
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Praveen Neeli
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Navid Sobhani
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Pavithra K
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Srinivasa Reddy Bonam
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Rajendra Kurapati
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Junnian Zheng
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dafei Chai
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė E, Gečaitė J, Želvys A, Zinkevičienė A, Žalnėravičius R, Malyško-Ptašinskė V, Nemeikaitė-Čenienė A, Kašėta V, German N, Novickij J, Ramanavičienė A, Kulbacka J, Novickij V. Improving NonViral Gene Delivery Using MHz Bursts of Nanosecond Pulses and Gold Nanoparticles for Electric Field Amplification. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041178. [PMID: 37111663 PMCID: PMC10146442 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene delivery by the pulsed electric field is a promising alternative technology for nonviral transfection; however, the application of short pulses (i.e., nanosecond) is extremely limited. In this work, we aimed to show the capability to improve gene delivery using MHz frequency bursts of nanosecond pulses and characterize the potential use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs: 9, 13, 14, and 22 nm) in this context. We have used bursts of MHz pulses 3/5/7 kV/cm × 300 ns × 100 and compared the efficacy of the parametric protocols to conventional microsecond protocols (100 µs × 8, 1 Hz) separately and in combination with nanoparticles. Furthermore, the effects of pulses and AuNPs on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed. It was shown that gene delivery using microsecond protocols could be significantly improved with AuNPs; however, the efficacy is strongly dependent on the surface charge of AuNPs and their size. The capability of local field amplification using AuNPs was also confirmed by finite element method simulation. Finally, it was shown that AuNPs are not effective with nanosecond protocols. However, MHz protocols are still competitive in the context of gene delivery, resulting in low ROS generation, preserved viability, and easier procedure to trigger comparable efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eivina Radzevičiūtė-Valčiukė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jovita Gečaitė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Augustinas Želvys
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Auksė Zinkevičienė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rokas Žalnėravičius
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Science and Technology, 02300 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Aušra Nemeikaitė-Čenienė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Kašėta
- Department of Biomodels, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Natalija German
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jurij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Almira Ramanavičienė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ibrahimi N, Vallet L, Andre FM, Rivaletto M, Novac BM, Mir LM, Pécastaing L. An Overview of Subnanosecond Pulsed Electric Field Biological Effects: Toward Contactless Technologies for Cancer Treatment. Bioelectricity 2023. [DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2022.0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Njomza Ibrahimi
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur Appliquées à la Mécanique et au Génie Électrique–Fédération IPRA, EA4581, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour/E2S UPPA, Pau, France
| | - Leslie Vallet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Gustave Roussy, UMR 9018, Metabolic and Systemic Aspects of Oncogenesis (METSY), Villejuif, France
| | - Franck M. Andre
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Gustave Roussy, UMR 9018, Metabolic and Systemic Aspects of Oncogenesis (METSY), Villejuif, France
| | - Marc Rivaletto
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur Appliquées à la Mécanique et au Génie Électrique–Fédération IPRA, EA4581, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour/E2S UPPA, Pau, France
| | - Bucur M. Novac
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur Appliquées à la Mécanique et au Génie Électrique–Fédération IPRA, EA4581, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour/E2S UPPA, Pau, France
- Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Lluis M. Mir
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Gustave Roussy, UMR 9018, Metabolic and Systemic Aspects of Oncogenesis (METSY), Villejuif, France
| | - Laurent Pécastaing
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur Appliquées à la Mécanique et au Génie Électrique–Fédération IPRA, EA4581, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour/E2S UPPA, Pau, France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Potočnik T, Maček Lebar A, Kos Š, Reberšek M, Pirc E, Serša G, Miklavčič D. Effect of Experimental Electrical and Biological Parameters on Gene Transfer by Electroporation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122700. [PMID: 36559197 PMCID: PMC9786189 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The exact mechanisms of nucleic acid (NA) delivery with gene electrotransfer (GET) are still unknown, which represents a limitation for its broader use. Further, not knowing the effects that different experimental electrical and biological parameters have on GET additionally hinders GET optimization, resulting in the majority of research being performed using a trial-and-error approach. To explore the current state of knowledge, we conducted a systematic literature review of GET papers in in vitro conditions and performed meta-analyses of the reported GET efficiency. For now, there is no universal GET strategy that would be appropriate for all experimental aims. Apart from the availability of the required electroporation device and electrodes, the choice of an optimal GET approach depends on parameters such as the electroporation medium; type and origin of cells; and the size, concentration, promoter, and type of the NA to be transfected. Equally important are appropriate controls and the measurement or evaluation of the output pulses to allow a fair and unbiased evaluation of the experimental results. Since many experimental electrical and biological parameters can affect GET, it is important that all used parameters are adequately reported to enable the comparison of results, as well as potentially faster and more efficient experiment planning and optimization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tjaša Potočnik
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Maček Lebar
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Špela Kos
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matej Reberšek
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Pirc
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Serša
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damijan Miklavčič
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu F, Yang Z, Yao R, Li H, Cheng J, Guo M. Bulk Electroporation for Intracellular Delivery Directly Driven by Mechanical Stimulus. ACS NANO 2022; 16:19363-19372. [PMID: 36350673 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c08945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Electroporation (EP) is an effective and widely accepted intracellular delivery method for fundamental research and medical applications. Existing electroporation methods usually require a commercially available EP system or tailor-made high-voltage (HV, up to kV) power source and are complicated, expensive, harmful to the cells, and even dangerous to the operators. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a highly studied device that can generate HV output with limited charges and ultrahigh internal impedance. Here, we developed a Bulk Electroporation System based on TENG (BEST). To maximize the load voltage of the TENG, a flowing EP unit with a capillary was designed as a resistive load to realize impedance matching. A low conductivity buffer was used to further match and assist cell electroporation. Besides, the electrical model and experiments on cells transfected with the BEST showed that the bulk electric field of the cell medium could reach up to 1 kV/cm, therefore resulting in a nearly 30 times increase of trans-membrane potential, thus largely improving transfection efficiency. Finally, using 40 kDa FITC-dextran, we showed that a delivery efficiency above 50% with a cell viability maintained over 90% can be achieved in HeLa cells. This work demonstrated the potential of TENG in the biomedical field as a naturally safe HV power source. It also provided a simple, alternative, and low-cost solution for EP research and related biomedicine applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
| | - Ze Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, P. R. China
- School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing100083, P. R. China
| | - Rui Yao
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, P.R. China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium Systems, Beijing Normal University, Beijing100875, P.R. China
| | - Jia Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, P. R. China
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Silkunas M, Gudvangen E, Novickij V, Pakhomov AG. Sub-MHz bursts of nanosecond pulses excite neurons at paradoxically low electric field thresholds without membrane damage. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:184034. [PMID: 35981654 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuromodulation applications of nanosecond electric pulses (nsEP) are hindered by their low potency to elicit action potentials in neurons. Excitation by a single nsEP requires a strong electric field which injures neurons by electroporation. We bypassed the high electric field requirement by replacing single nsEP stimuli with high-frequency brief nsEP bursts. In hippocampal neurons, excitation thresholds progressively decreased at nsEP frequencies above 20-200 kHz, with up to 20-30-fold reduction at sub-MHz and MHz rates. For a fixed burst duration, thresholds were determined by the duty cycle, irrespective of the specific nsEP duration, rate, or number of pulses per burst. For 100-μs bursts of 100-, 400-, or 800-ns pulses, the threshold decreased as a power function when the duty cycle exceeded 3-5 %. nsEP bursts were compared with single "long" pulses whose duration and amplitude matched the duration and the time-average amplitude of the burst. Such pulses deliver the same electric charge as bursts, within the same time interval. High-frequency nsEP bursts excited neurons at the time-average electric field 2-3 times below the threshold for a single long pulse. For example, the excitation threshold of 139 ± 14 V/cm for a single 100-μs pulse decreased to 57 ± 8 V/cm for a 100-μs burst of 100-ns, 0.25-MHz pulses (p < 0.001). Applying nsEP in bursts reduced or prevented the loss of excitability in multiple stimulation attempts. Stimulation by high-frequency nsEP bursts is a powerful novel approach to excite neurons at paradoxically low electric charge while also avoiding the electroporative membrane damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Silkunas
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA; Institute for Digestive System Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Emily Gudvangen
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | | | - Andrei G Pakhomov
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Electroporation (EP) is a commonly used strategy to increase cell permeability for intracellular cargo delivery or irreversible cell membrane disruption using electric fields. In recent years, EP performance has been improved by shrinking electrodes and device structures to the microscale. Integration with microfluidics has led to the design of devices performing static EP, where cells are fixed in a defined region, or continuous EP, where cells constantly pass through the device. Each device type performs superior to conventional, macroscale EP devices while providing additional advantages in precision manipulation (static EP) and increased throughput (continuous EP). Microscale EP is gentle on cells and has enabled more sensitive assaying of cells with novel applications. In this Review, we present the physical principles of microscale EP devices and examine design trends in recent years. In addition, we discuss the use of reversible and irreversible EP in the development of therapeutics and analysis of intracellular contents, among other noteworthy applications. This Review aims to inform and encourage scientists and engineers to expand the use of efficient and versatile microscale EP technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Eun Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Harrison Khoo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Soojung Claire Hur
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, 401 North Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Transfection by Electroporation of Cancer and Primary Cells Using Nanosecond and Microsecond Electric Fields. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061239. [PMID: 35745814 PMCID: PMC9230780 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene transfer into primary immune cells as well as into cell lines is essential for scientific and therapeutical applications. One of the methods used for gene transfer is electroporation (EP). EP is a method where a pulsed electric field (PEF) causes a highly transient permeability of the targeted cell membrane. In this work, we present the electrotransfection of CHO-K1, 4T1 cell lines, and primary murine DCs with detectable protein-encoding plasmids in the sub-microsecond range. Microsecond (µs)- and nanosecond (ns)-range pulsed electric field transfection protocols were used. The efficiency of electrotransfection was evaluated using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-encoding plasmids (4.7 kbp; p-EGFP-N1) and plasmids expressing a firefly luciferase and red fluorescent protein (tdTomato) (8.5 kbp; pcDNA3.1(+)/Luc2 = tdT)). It was shown that the used nsPEFs protocol (7 kV/cm × 300 ns × 100, 1 MHz) ensured a better transfection efficiency than µsPEFs (1.2 kV/cm × 100 µs × 8, 1 Hz). Plasmid size and concentration had a strong impact on the cell transfection efficiency too. We also showed that there were no significant differences in transfection efficiency between immature and mature DCs. Finally, the nsPEF protocols were successfully applied for the stable transfection of the CHO-K1 cell line with the linearized pcDNA3.1(+)/Luc2 = tdT plasmid. The results of the study are applicable in gene therapy and DNA vaccination studies for the derivation of optimal electrotransfection conditions.
Collapse
|
11
|
Kasprzycka W, Trębińska-Stryjewska A, Lewandowski RB, Stępińska M, Osuchowska PN, Dobrzyńska M, Achour Y, Osuchowski ŁP, Starzyński J, Mierczyk Z, Trafny EA. Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field Only Transiently Affects the Cellular and Molecular Processes of Leydig Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011236. [PMID: 34681896 PMCID: PMC8541366 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to verify whether the nanosecond pulsed electric field, not eliciting thermal effects, permanently changes the molecular processes and gene expression of Leydig TM3 cells. The cells were exposed to a moderate electric field (80 quasi-rectangular shape pulses, 60 ns pulse width, and an electric field of 14 kV/cm). The putative disturbances were recorded over 24 h. After exposure to the nanosecond pulsed electric field, a 19% increase in cell diameter, a loss of microvilli, and a 70% reduction in cell adhesion were observed. Some cells showed the nonapoptotic externalization of phosphatidylserine through the pores in the plasma membrane. The cell proportion in the subG1 phase increased by 8% at the expense of the S and G2/M phases, and the DNA was fragmented in a small proportion of the cells. The membrane mitochondrial potential and superoxide content decreased by 37% and 23%, respectively. Microarray’s transcriptome analysis demonstrated a negative transient effect on the expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, DNA repair, cell proliferation, and the overexpression of plasma membrane proteins. We conclude that nanosecond pulsed electric field affected the physiology and gene expression of TM3 cells transiently, with a noticeable heterogeneity of cellular responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Kasprzycka
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Alicja Trębińska-Stryjewska
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Rafał Bogdan Lewandowski
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Małgorzata Stępińska
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Paulina Natalia Osuchowska
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Monika Dobrzyńska
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Yahia Achour
- Faculty of Electronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (Y.A.); (J.S.)
| | - Łukasz Paweł Osuchowski
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Jacek Starzyński
- Faculty of Electronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (Y.A.); (J.S.)
| | - Zygmunt Mierczyk
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
| | - Elżbieta Anna Trafny
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (W.K.); (A.T.-S.); (R.B.L.); (M.S.); (P.N.O.); (M.D.); (Ł.P.O.); (Z.M.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kiełbik A, Szlasa W, Novickij V, Szewczyk A, Maciejewska M, Saczko J, Kulbacka J. Effects of high-frequency nanosecond pulses on prostate cancer cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15835. [PMID: 34349171 PMCID: PMC8339066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95180-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroporation with pulsed electric fields show a potential to be applied as an experimental focal therapy of tumors. Sub-microsecond regime of electric pulses displays unique electrophysical features operative in cells and membranes. Recently, MHz compression of nanosecond pulses electric fields (nsPEFs) bursts proved to enhance the effectiveness of the therapy. High morbidity of prostate cancer (PCa) and risk of overtreatment associated with this malignancy call for new minimal-invasive treatment alternative. Herein we present the in vitro study for developing applications based on this new technology. In this study, we used flow cytometric analysis, cell viability assay, caspase activity analysis, wound healing assay, confocal microscopy study, and immunofluorescence to investigate the biological effect of high-frequency nsPEFs on PCa cells. Our results show that high-frequency nsPEFs induces the permeabilization and cell death of PCa cells. The cytotoxicity is significantly enhanced in MHz compression of pulses and with the presence of extracellular Ca2+. High-frequency nsPEFs trigger changes in PCa cells' cytoskeleton and their mobility. The presented data show a therapeutic potential of high-frequency nsPEFs in a PCa setting. The sub-microsecond regime of pulses can potentially be applied in nanosecond electroporation protocols for PCa treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Kiełbik
- grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XMedical University Hospital, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland ,grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Wojciech Szlasa
- grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XFaculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- grid.9424.b0000 0004 1937 1776Institute of High Magnetic Fields, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Anna Szewczyk
- grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland ,grid.8505.80000 0001 1010 5103Department of Animal Developmental Biology, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, 50-328 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Magdalena Maciejewska
- grid.413454.30000 0001 1958 0162Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jolanta Saczko
- grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- grid.4495.c0000 0001 1090 049XDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
da Luz JCDS, Antunes F, Clavijo-Salomon MA, Signori E, Tessarollo NG, Strauss BE. Clinical Applications and Immunological Aspects of Electroporation-Based Therapies. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:727. [PMID: 34358144 PMCID: PMC8310106 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reversible electropermeabilization (RE) is an ultrastructural phenomenon that transiently increases the permeability of the cell membrane upon application of electrical pulses. The technique was described in 1972 by Neumann and Rosenheck and is currently used in a variety of applications, from medicine to food processing. In oncology, RE is applied for the intracellular transport of chemotherapeutic drugs as well as the delivery of genetic material in gene therapies and vaccinations. This review summarizes the physical changes of the membrane, the particularities of bleomycin, and the immunological aspects involved in electrochemotherapy and gene electrotransfer, two important EP-based cancer therapies in human and veterinary oncology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean Carlos dos Santos da Luz
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
| | - Fernanda Antunes
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
| | | | - Emanuela Signori
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Nayara Gusmão Tessarollo
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
| | - Bryan E. Strauss
- Viral Vector Laboratory, Cancer Institute of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil; (J.C.d.S.d.L.); (F.A.); (N.G.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Mi Y, Xu J, Liu Q, Wu X, Zhang Q, Tang J. Single-cell electroporation with high-frequency nanosecond pulse bursts: Simulation considering the irreversible electroporation effect and experimental validation. Bioelectrochemistry 2021; 140:107822. [PMID: 33915340 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
To study the electroporation characteristics of cells under high-frequency nanosecond pulse bursts (HFnsPBs), the original electroporation mathematical model was improved. By setting a threshold value for irreversible electroporation (IRE) and considering the effect of an electric field on the surface tension of a cell membrane, a mathematical model of electroporation considering the effect of IRE is proposed for the first time. A typical two-dimensional cell system was discretized into nodes using MATLAB, and a mesh transport network method (MTNM) model was established for simulation. The dynamic processes of single-cell electroporation and molecular transport under the application of 50 unipolar HFnsPBs with field intensities of 9 kV cm-1 and different frequencies (10 kHz, 100 kHz and 500 kHz) to the target system was simulated with a 300 s simulation time. The IRE characteristics and molecular transport were evaluated. In addition, a PI fluorescent dye assay was designed to verify the correctness of the model by providing time-domain and spatial results that were compared with the simulation results. The simulation achieved IRE and demonstrated the cumulative effects of multipulse bursts and intraburst frequency on irreversible pores. The model can also reflect the cumulative effect of multipulse bursts on reversible pores by introducing an assumption of stable reversible pores. The experimental results agreed qualitatively with the simulation results. A relative calibration of the fluorescence data gave time-domain molecular transport results that were quantitatively similar to the simulation results. This article reveals the cell electroporation characteristics under HFnsPBs from a mechanism perspective and has important guidance for fields involving the IRE of cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
| | - Jin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Quan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical Science University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Junying Tang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical Science University, Chongqing 400016, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sözer EB, Pakhomov AG, Semenov I, Casciola M, Kim V, Vernier PT, Zemlin CW. Analysis of electrostimulation and electroporation by high repetition rate bursts of nanosecond stimuli. Bioelectrochemistry 2021; 140:107811. [PMID: 33862549 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Exposures to short-duration, strong electric field pulses have been utilized for stimulation, ablation, and the delivery of molecules into cells. Ultrashort, nanosecond duration pulses have shown unique benefits, but they require higher field strengths. One way to overcome this requirement is to use trains of nanosecond pulses with high repetition rates, up to the MHz range. Here we present a theoretical model to describe the effects of pulse trains on the plasma membrane and intracellular membranes modeled as resistively charged capacitors. We derive the induced membrane potential and the stimulation threshold as functions of pulse number, pulse duration, and repetition rate. This derivation provides a straightforward method to calculate the membrane charging time constant from experimental data. The derived excitation threshold agrees with nerve stimulation experiments, indicating that nanosecond pulses are not more effective than longer pulses in charging nerve fibers. The derived excitation threshold does not, however, correctly predict the nanosecond stimulation of cardiomyocytes. We show that a better agreement is possible if multiple charging time constants are considered. Finally, we expand the model to intracellular membranes and show that pulse trains do not lead to charge buildup, but can create significant oscillations of the intracellular membrane potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esin B Sözer
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA.
| | - Andrei G Pakhomov
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Iurii Semenov
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Maura Casciola
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Vitalii Kim
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - P Thomas Vernier
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Christian W Zemlin
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Vižintin A, Marković S, Ščančar J, Miklavčič D. Electroporation with nanosecond pulses and bleomycin or cisplatin results in efficient cell kill and low metal release from electrodes. Bioelectrochemistry 2021; 140:107798. [PMID: 33743336 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Nanosecond electric pulses have several potential advantages in electroporation-based procedures over the conventional micro- and millisecond pulses including low level of heating, reduced electrochemical reactions and reduced muscle contractions making them alluring for use in biomedicine and food industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate if nanosecond pulses can enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutics bleomycin and cisplatin in vitro and to quantify metal release from electrodes in comparison to 100 μs pulses commonly used in electrochemotherapy. The effects of nanosecond pulse parameters (voltage, pulse duration, number of pulses) on cell membrane permeabilization, resealing and on cell survival after electroporation only and after electrochemotherapy with bleomycin and cisplatin were evaluated on Chinese hamster ovary cells. Application of permeabilizing nanosecond pulses in combination with chemotherapeutics resulted in successful cell kill. Higher extracellular concentrations of bleomycin - but not cisplatin - were needed to achieve the same decrease in cell survival with nanosecond pulses as with eight 100 μs pulses, however, the tested bleomycin concentrations were still considerably lower compared to doses used in clinical practice. Decreasing the pulse duration from microseconds to nanoseconds and concomitantly increasing the amplitude to achieve the same biological effect resulted in reduced release of aluminum ions from electroporation cuvettes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Vižintin
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stefan Marković
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janez Ščančar
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damijan Miklavčič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Novickij V, Balevičiūtė A, Ruzgys P, Šatkauskas S, Novickij J, Zinkevičienė A, Girkontaitė I. Sub-microsecond electrotransfection using new modality of high frequency electroporation. Bioelectrochemistry 2020; 136:107594. [PMID: 32679337 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2020.107594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Micro-millisecond range electric field pulses have been used for decades to facilitate DNA transfer into cells and tissues, while the growing number of clinical trials underline the strong potential of DNA electroporation. In this work, we present new sub-microsecond range protocols and methodology enabling successful electrotransfection in the sub-microsecond range. To facilitate DNA transfer, a 3 kV/60 A and high frequency (1 MHz) sub-microsecond range square wave generator was applied in the study. As a model, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells were used. Sub-microsecond range (300-700 ns) high frequency pulsed electric fields of 2-15 kV/cm were applied. The efficiency of electrotransfection was evaluated using two green fluorescent protein encoding plasmids of different size (3.5 kbp and 4.7 kbp). It was shown that transfection efficiency cannot be effectively improved with increase of the number of pulses after a certain threshold, however, independently on the plasmid size, the proposed sub-microsecond range pulsing methodology (2-5 kV/cm; n = 250) efficiency-wise was equivalent to 1.5 kV/cm × 100 μs × 4 electroporation procedure. The results of the study are useful for further development of in vitro and in vivo methods for effective electrotransfer of DNA using shorter pulses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vitalij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Austėja Balevičiūtė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Paulius Ruzgys
- Biophysical Research Group, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Saulius Šatkauskas
- Biophysical Research Group, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jurij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Auksė Zinkevičienė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Irutė Girkontaitė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Department of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chang AY, Liu X, Tian H, Hua L, Yang Z, Wang S. Microfluidic Electroporation Coupling Pulses of Nanoseconds and Milliseconds to Facilitate Rapid Uptake and Enhanced Expression of DNA in Cell Therapy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6061. [PMID: 32269260 PMCID: PMC7142113 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63172-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Standard electroporation with pulses in milliseconds has been used as an effective tool to deliver drugs or genetic probes into cells, while irreversible electroporation with nanosecond pulses is explored to alter intracellular activities for pulse-induced apoptosis. A combination treatment, long nanosecond pulses followed by standard millisecond pulses, is adopted in this work to help facilitate DNA plasmids to cross both cell plasma membrane and nuclear membrane quickly to promote the transgene expression level and kinetics in both adherent and suspension cells. Nanosecond pulses with 400–800 ns duration are found effective on disrupting nuclear membrane to advance nuclear delivery of plasmid DNA. The additional microfluidic operation further helps suppress the negative impacts such as Joule heating and gas bubble evolution from common nanosecond pulse treatment that lead to high toxicity and/or ineffective transfection. Having appropriate order and little delay between the two types of treatment with different pulse duration is critical to guarantee the effectiveness: 2 folds or higher transfection efficiency enhancement and rapid transgene expression kinetics of GFP plasmids at no compromise of cell viability. The implementation of this new electroporation approach may benefit many biology studies and clinical practice that needs efficient delivery of exogenous probes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- An-Yi Chang
- Chemical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA.,Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA.,Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitations, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA
| | - Xuan Liu
- Macromolecular and Nanotechnology, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA.,Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitations, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA
| | - Hong Tian
- Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA
| | - Liping Hua
- Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA.,Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitations, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA
| | - Zhaogang Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Shengnian Wang
- Chemical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA. .,Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA. .,Macromolecular and Nanotechnology, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA. .,Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitations, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10137, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Murauskas A, Staigvila G, Girkontaitė I, Zinkevičienė A, Ruzgys P, Šatkauskas S, Novickij J, Novickij V. Predicting electrotransfer in ultra-high frequency sub-microsecond square wave electric fields. Electromagn Biol Med 2019; 39:1-8. [PMID: 31884821 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2019.1710529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Measurement of cell transmembrane potential (TMP) is a complex methodology involving patch-clamp methods or fluorescence-based potentiometric markers, which have limited to no applicability during ultrafast charging and relaxation phenomena. In such a case, analytical methods are applied for evaluation of the voltage potential changes in biological cells. In this work, the TMP-based electrotransfer mechanism during ultra-high frequency (≥1 MHz) electric fields is studied and the phenomenon of rapid membrane charge accumulation, which is non-occurrent during conventional low-frequency electroporation is simulated using finite element method (FEM). The influence of extracellular medium conductivity (0.1, 1.5 S/m) and pulse rise/fall times (10-50 ns) TMP generation are presented. It is shown that the medium conductivity has a dramatic influence on the electroporation process in the high-frequency range of applied pulsed electric fields (PEF). The applied model allowed to grasp the differences in polarization between 100 and 900 ns PEF and enabled successful prediction of the experimental outcome of propidium iodide electrotransfer into CHO-K1 cells and the conductivity-dependent patterns of MHz range PEF-triggered electroporation were determined. The results of this study form recommendations for development and pre-evaluation of future PEF protocols and generators based on ultra-high frequency electroporation for anticancer and gene therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arūnas Murauskas
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gediminas Staigvila
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Irutė Girkontaitė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Auksė Zinkevičienė
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Paulius Ruzgys
- Biophysics Group, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | | | - Jurij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Excitation and electroporation by MHz bursts of nanosecond stimuli. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 518:759-764. [PMID: 31472962 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.08.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Intense nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) is a novel modality for cell activation and nanoelectroporation. Applications of nsPEF in research and therapy are hindered by a high electric field requirement, typically from 1 to over 50 kV/cm to elicit any bioeffects. We show how this requirement can be overcome by engaging temporal summation when pulses are compressed into high-rate bursts (up to several MHz). This approach was tested for excitation of ventricular cardiomyocytes and peripheral nerve fibers; for membrane electroporation of cardiomyocytes, CHO, and HEK cells; and for killing EL-4 cells. MHz compression of nsPEF bursts (100-1000 pulses) enables excitation at only 0.01-0.15 kV/cm and electroporation already at 0.4-0.6 kV/cm. Clear separation of excitation and electroporation thresholds allows for multiple excitation cycles without membrane disruption. The efficiency of nsPEF bursts increases with the duty cycle (by increasing either pulse duration or repetition rate) and with increasing the total time "on" (by increasing either pulse duration or number). For some endpoints, the efficiency of nsPEF bursts matches a single "long" pulse whose amplitude and duration equal the time-average amplitude and duration of the bursts. For other endpoints this rule is not valid, presumably because of nsPEF-specific bioeffects and/or possible modification of targets already during the burst. MHz compression of nsPEF bursts is a universal and efficient way to lower excitation thresholds and facilitate electroporation.
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
In this paper, we present an analysis and a validation of a simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis (SPICE) model for a pulse forming circuit of a high frequency electroporation system, which can deliver square-wave sub-microsecond (100–900 ns) electric field pulses. The developed SPICE model is suggested for use in evaluation of transient processes that occur due to high frequency operations in prototype systems. A controlled crowbar circuit was implemented to support a variety of biological loads and to ensure a constant electric pulse rise and fall time during electroporation to be independent of the applied buffer bioimpedance. The SPICE model was validated via a comparison of the simulation and experimental results obtained from the already existing prototype system. The SPICE model results were in good agreement with the experimental results, and the model complexity was found to be sufficient for analysis of transient processes. As result, the proposed SPICE model can be useful for evaluation and compensation of transient processes in sub-microsecond pulsed power set-ups during the development of new prototypes.
Collapse
|