Abstract
Electroporation (EP) is one of the successful physical methods for intracellular drug delivery, which temporarily permeabilizes plasma membrane by exposing cells to electric pulses. Orientation of cells in electric field is important for electroporation and, consequently, for transport of molecules through permeabilized plasma membrane. Uptake of molecules after electroporation are the greatest at poles of cells facing electrodes and is often asymmetrical. However, asymmetry reported was inconsistent and inconclusive—in different reports it was either preferentially anodal or cathodal. We investigated the asymmetry of polar uptake of calcium ions after electroporation with electric pulses of different durations, as the orientation of elongated cells affects electroporation to a different extent when using electric pulses of different durations in the range of 100 ns to 100 µs. The results show that with 1, 10, and 100 µs pulses, the uptake of calcium ions is greater at the pole closer to the cathode than at the pole closer to the anode. With shorter 100 ns pulses, the asymmetry is not observed. A different extent of electroporation at different parts of elongated cells, such as muscle or cardiac cells, may have an impact on electroporation-based treatments such as drug delivery, pulse-field ablation, and gene electrotransfection.
Highlights
Introduction and JeanMarc SabatierExposure of cells to electric pulses of adequate amplitude and durations leads to transient increase in their plasma membrane permeability and the phenomenon is termed electroporation (EP)
Electroporation for drug delivery can be controlled by choosing appropriate electric pulse parameters for specific cells and tissues, as well as molecules to be delivered [10], it is of great importance to thoroughly explore the phenomenon
Intracellular concentration of Ca2+ was increased due to Ca2+ uptake from external medium (DMEM, 1.8 mM Ca2+ ) and/or the release of Ca2+ from internal stores which resulted in Fura-2 response
Summary
Exposure of cells to electric pulses of adequate amplitude and durations leads to transient increase in their plasma membrane permeability and the phenomenon is termed electroporation (EP). Cells recover after electroporation and remain viable (reversible EP), with stronger electric fields or longer pulse duration, cells do not recover from the damage and they die (irreversible EP) [2,3]. Electroporation can be used for intracellular drug delivery. Since it is a physical method, it bypasses the potential safety issue of viral vectors [4]. Electroporation for drug delivery can be controlled by choosing appropriate electric pulse parameters for specific cells and tissues, as well as molecules to be delivered [10], it is of great importance to thoroughly explore the phenomenon
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