Electropermeabilization, a physical method for the delivery of therapeutic molecules into cells

Abstract

Electropermeabilization designates the use of short high-voltage pulses to overcome the barrier of the cell membrane. A position-dependent reversible local membrane permeabilization is induced leading to an exchange of hydrophilic molecules across the membrane. This permeabilized state can be used to load cells with therapeutic molecules. In the case of small molecules, such as anticancer drugs, transfer occurs through simple diffusion. In the case of DNA, transfer occurs through a multi-step mechanism, a process that involves the electrophoretically driven association of the DNA molecule with the destabilised membrane and then its passage.