Numerical Study on Electropermeabilization of Cell Membranes in Sine-Wave Electric Field of Variable Frequency

Author(s):  
A. M. Sandu ◽  
M. A. Ungureanu ◽  
M. Morega ◽  
V. L. Călin ◽  
M. G. Moisescu ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 114-128
Author(s):  
Matheus F. Grings ◽  
Rejane de C. Oliveski ◽  
Ligia D.F. Marczak

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Alvim Berkenbrock ◽  
Rafaela Grecco Machado ◽  
Daniela Ota Hisayasu Suzuki

Electrochemotherapy is an anticancer treatment based on applying electric field pulses that reduce cell membrane selectivity, allowing chemotherapy drugs to enter the cells. In parallel to electrochemotherapy clinical tests, in silico experiments have helped scientists and clinicians to understand the electric field distribution through anatomically complex regions of the body. In particular, these in silico experiments allow clinicians to predict problems that may arise in treatment effectiveness. The current work presents a metastatic case of a mast cell tumor in a dog. In this specific treatment planning study, we show that using needle electrodes has a possible pitfall. The macroscopic consequence of the electroporation was assessed through a mathematical model of tissue electrical conductivity. Considering the electrical and geometrical characteristics of the case under study, we modeled an ellipsoidal tumor. Initial simulations were based on the European Standard Operating Procedures for electrochemotherapy suggestions, and then different electrodes’ arrangements were evaluated. To avoid blind spots, multiple applications are usually required for large tumors, demanding electrode repositioning. An effective treatment electroporates all the tumor cells. Partially and slightly overlapping the areas increases the session’s duration but also likely increases the treatment’s effectiveness. It is worth noting that for a single application, the needles should not be placed close to the tumor’s borders because effectiveness is highly likely to be lost.


2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 319-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Rols ◽  
M. Golzio ◽  
B. Gabriel ◽  
J. Teissié

Electric field pulses are a new approach for drug and gene delivery for cancer therapy. They induce a localized structural alteration of cell membranes. The associated physical mechanisms are well explained and can be safely controlled. A position dependent modulation of the membrane potential difference is induced when an electric field is applied to a cell. Electric field pulses with an overcritical intensity evoke a local membrane alteration. A free exchange of hydrophilic low molecular weight molecules takes place across the membrane. A leakage of cytosolic metabolites and a loading of polar drugs into the cytoplasm are obtained. The fraction of the cell surface which is competent for exchange is a function of the field intensity. The level of local exchange is strongly controlled by the pulse duration and the number of successive pulses. The permeabilised state is long lived. Its lifetime is under the control of the cumulated pulse duration. Cell viability can be preserved. Gene transfer is obtained but its mechanism is not a free diffusion. Plasmids are electrophoretically accumulated against the permeabilised cell surface and form aggregates due to the field effect. After the pulses, several steps follow: translocation to the cytoplasm, traffic to the nucleus and expression. Molecular structural and metabolic changes in cells remain mostly poorly understood. Nevertheless, while most studies were established on cells in culture ( in vitro), recent experiments show that similar effects are obtained on tissue ( in vivo). Transfer remains controlled by the physical parameters of the electrical treatment.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ik-Soo Kwon ◽  
Sun-Jin Kim ◽  
Mansoor Asif ◽  
Bang-Wook Lee

The influx of a switching impulse during DC steady-state operations causes severe electrical stress on the insulation of HVDC cables. Thus, the insulation should be designed to withstand a superimposed switching impulse. All major manufacturers of DC cables perform superimposed switching impulse breakdown tests for prequalification. However, an experimental approach to study space charge dynamics in dielectrics under a switching impulse superposed on DC voltage has not been reported yet. This is because, unlike the DC stress, it is not possible to study the charge dynamics experimentally under complex stresses, such as switching impulse superposition. Hence, in order to predict and investigate the breakdown characteristics, it is necessary to obtain accurate electric field distribution considering space charge dynamics using a numerical approach. Therefore, in this paper, a numerical study on the switching impulse superposition was carried out. The space charge dynamics and its distribution within the dielectric under DC stress were compared with those under a superimposed switching impulse using a bipolar charge transport (BCT) model. In addition, we estimated the effect of a superimposed switching impulse on a DC electric field distribution. It was concluded that the temperature conditions of dielectrics have a significant influence on electric field and space charge dynamics.


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