Review
Immunology
Xuan Gong, Zhou Chen, Jason J. Hu, Chao Liu
Summary: Electroporation is a process that increases the permeability of a cell membrane under a pulsed electric field. It can either be reversible or irreversible depending on the electric pulses and the target cell characteristics. Reversible electroporation facilitates the delivery of genetic materials or drugs to target cells, inducing cell death. Irreversible electroporation is a technology used for tissue ablation. Electroporation can also activate immune response and enhance immunotherapy.
Review
Immunology
Jean Carlos dos Santos da Luz, Fernanda Antunes, Maria Alejandra Clavijo-Salomon, Emanuela Signori, Nayara Gusmao Tessarollo, Bryan E. Strauss
Summary: Reversible electropermeabilization is a technique that transiently increases membrane permeability by applying electrical pulses, widely used in various fields from medicine to food processing. In oncology, it is applied for intracellular transport of chemotherapeutic drugs and delivery of genetic material, serving as important cancer therapies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simona Kranjc Brezar, Ajda Medved, Urska Matkovic, Gregor Sersa, Bostjan Markelc, Tim Bozic, Mihaela Jurdana, Maja Cemazar
Summary: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local ablative therapy used to treat various skin and subcutaneous tumors as well as certain tumors in internal organs. The study aimed to investigate the side effects of ECT on skeletal muscle at the cellular level and determine its impact on myogenesis in a mouse muscle cell line.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Reginald M. Atkins, Timothy J. Fawcett, Richard Gilbert, Andrew M. Hoff, Richard Connolly, Douglas W. Brown, Mark J. Jaroszeski
Summary: The research in this publication was primarily supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and in part by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Additional support was provided by various departments at USF, with approximately 80% of the study costs financed with federal money.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Alison Generotti, Ryne Contreras, Brenden Zounes, Eric Schade, Andrea Kemme, Yatish Rane, Xinggang Liu, Dustin Elwood, Katherine Schultheis, Jeremy Marston, Jay Mccoy, Kate Broderick, Paul Fisher
Summary: This study demonstrates a novel and reliable method for delivering DNA vaccines using noninvasive intradermal vacuum-EP (ID-VEP). The ID-VEP procedure generates potent immune responses and is comparable to the clinical needle-based ID-EP device.
MOLECULAR THERAPY NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Corina Ioana Cucu, Calin Giurcaneanu, Liliana Gabriela Popa, Olguta Anca Orzan, Cristina Beiu, Alina Maria Holban, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, Bogdan Mircea Matei, Marius Nicolae Popescu, Constantin Caruntu, Mara Madalina Mihai
Summary: Electrochemotherapy is an effective bioelectrochemical procedure for tumor treatment, especially for skin tumors. It is a safe treatment method that can significantly improve patients' quality of life.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Sabrina N. Campelo, Po-Hsun Huang, Cullen R. Buie, Rafael V. Davalos
Summary: In the past decade, electroporation-based technologies have gained popularity in various fields including molecular biology, food sanitation, and therapeutic applications. This article provides an overview of the biophysics behind electroporation and discusses the advancements in single-cell and in vivo electroporation technologies.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Blaz Trotovsek, Mihajlo Djokic, Maja Cemazar, Gregor Sersa
Summary: Electrochemotherapy is a local ablative therapy that enhances the cytotoxicity of bleomycin or cisplatin by applying electric pulses to tumors. It has shown promising results in treating various cutaneous tumors and has recently been introduced for primary liver tumors, such as HCC. Electrochemotherapy can elicit a local immune response and has the potential to become a preferred treatment for HCC.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Giulia Bertino, Tobian Muir, Joy Odili, Ales Groselj, Roberto Marconato, Pietro Curatolo, Erika Kis, Camilla Kjaer Lonkvist, James Clover, Pietro Quaglino, Christian Kunte, Romina Spina, Veronica Seccia, Francesca de Terlizzi, Luca Giovanni Campana
Summary: This prospective registry-based study describes the use of electrochemotherapy (ECT) in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients and evaluates its effectiveness, safety, and predictive factors. The study found that ECT achieved a high rate of complete response in BCC patients, but there was no clear evidence that it was superior to standard surgical excision. ECT may be considered as an alternative treatment for patients who are not suitable for more invasive procedures.
Review
Oncology
Luca G. Campana, Adil Daud, Francesco Lancellotti, Julio P. Arroyo, Rafael V. Davalos, Claudia Di Prata, Julie Gehl
Summary: This article reviews the increasing role of locoregional therapies in contemporary oncology, with a focus on locoregional therapies harnessing electric pulses. Irreversible electroporation (IRE), gene electrotransfer (GET), electrochemotherapy (ECT), calcium electroporation (Ca-EP), and tumour-treating fields (TTF) are key techniques in therapeutic strategies. Despite their consolidated credibility and a favorable balance between efficacy and side effects, these therapies face fragmentation in terms of development stages and regulatory approval worldwide. This article summarizes the consensus of leading experts at the 4th World Congress of Electroporation in 2022, aiming to facilitate knowledge exchange and the development of synergistic treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Article
Oncology
Julia Rudno-Rudzinska, Wojciech Kielan, Maciej Guzinski, Maciej Plochocki, Agnieszka Antonczyk, Julita Kulbacka
Summary: The study investigated IRE, ECT, and CaEP as new strategies for human pancreatic cancer. Procedures were found to be safe and showed higher overall survival rates compared to traditional chemotherapy.
SURGICAL ONCOLOGY-OXFORD
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Rok Smerc, David A. A. Ramirez, Samo Mahnic-Kalamiza, Janja Dermol-Cerne, Daniel C. C. Sigg, Lars M. M. Mattison, Paul A. A. Iaizzo, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of electric field orientation in anisotropic muscle tissue on irreversible electroporation damage. In vivo experiments were conducted on porcine skeletal muscle, with the electric field applied parallel or perpendicular to the muscle fibers. Results showed that lesions in the parallel group were consistently smaller and narrower than those in the perpendicular group. The study concludes that muscle anisotropy is a significant factor in determining electric field distribution in electroporation applications. Significance: 8/10
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Bor Kos, Lars Mattison, David Ramirez, Helena Cindric, Daniel C. Sigg, Paul A. Iaizzo, Mark T. Stewart, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: Pulsed field ablation is an emerging modality for catheter-based cardiac ablation, and its main mechanism is irreversible electroporation (IRE). The lethal electric field threshold for IRE is a tissue property that determines treatment feasibility and enables the development of new devices and therapeutic applications, but it is greatly dependent on the number of pulses and their duration.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Bulysheva, Loree Heller, Michael Francis, Frency Varghese, Carly Boye, Richard Heller
Summary: A novel monopolar electroporation system and methodologies were developed for in vivo electroporation, showing enhanced gene expression through targeted electroporation and gene transfer achieved by an asymmetric anode/cathode electrode applicator geometry.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Cees W. M. van der Geld, Ruben T. van Gaalen, Hester J. Scheffer, Jantien A. Vogel, Willemien van den Bos, Martijn R. Meijerink, Marc G. H. Besselink, Rudolf M. Verdaasdonk, Martin J. C. van Gemert
Summary: In this study, it is demonstrated that a metal stent is not notably heated up by IRE pulses under typical clinical conditions. By applying Maxwell's equations and simplifying the electric field generated by two needles in tissue, the heat generation and transport in IRE procedures can be accurately modeled. This explanation contributes to the observed low temperature rim of viable tissue around the stent in tissue model experiments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shaurya Sachdev, Tjasa Potocnik, Lea Rems, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: Gene therapies have revolutionized medicine by curing previously incurable diseases. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, gene-based vaccines are being developed and distributed at record speeds. Gene electrotransfer (GET) is a non-viral technique that uses pulsed electric fields to overcome barriers and is currently being evaluated for therapeutic benefits in various indications. This review summarizes the current understanding of GET and discusses the mechanisms by which electric fields aid in overcoming barriers.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peter Kramar, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of different cholesterol concentrations on the behavior of planar lipid bilayers under an electric field. The results showed no statistical difference in capacitance but a significant impact on breakdown voltage with the addition of cholesterol.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Vitalij Novickij, Austeja Baleviciute, Veronika Malysko, Augustinas Zelvys, Eivina Radzeviciute, Bor Kos, Aukse Zinkeviciene, Damijan Miklavcic, Jurij Novickij, Irute Girkontaite
Summary: This study focuses on the use of high repetition frequency unipolar nanosecond pulses for bleomycin electrochemotherapy. It was found that the efficacy of sub-microsecond electrochemotherapy can be manipulated solely by the time delay between pulses.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helena Cindric, Gorana Gasljevic, Ibrahim Edhemovic, Erik Brecelj, Jan Zmuc, Maja Cemazar, Alenka Seliskar, Damijan Miklavcic, Bor Kos
Summary: This study investigated electroporation in the liver using a numerical mesoscale tissue model. The results showed that liver microstructure does not significantly affect the electric field distribution, but major hepatic vessels and portal spaces do have a significant impact, which should be considered in treatment planning.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aleksandra Cvetkoska, Alenka Macek-Lebar, Peter Trdina, Damijan Miklavcic, Matej Rebersek
Summary: This study is the first to examine pain sensation in humans using biphasic high-frequency electroporation pulses. The results confirm that biphasic high-frequency pulses with a pulse width of 1 or 2 microseconds reduce muscle contraction and pain sensation compared to longer monophasic pulses. Additionally, the interphase and interpulse delays play a significant role in reducing muscle contraction and/or pain sensation. These findings are important for optimizing the pulse parameters of electroporation treatments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matej Kranjc, Janja Dermol-Cerne, Tjasa Potocnik, Vitalij Novickij, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using high-intensity pulsed electromagnetic field (HI-PEMF) for non-viral delivery of genetic material in vitro. The results show that HI-PEMF can cause DNA adsorption to the cell membrane and induce gene electrotransfection. Endocytosis is also identified as a possible mechanism for introducing large molecules into cells by HI-PEMF.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tjasa Potocnik, Shaurya Sachdev, Tamara Polajzer, Alenka Macek Lebar, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: In this study, we investigated the potential use of different pulse durations for gene electrotransfer and compared the efficiency and dynamics of transgene expression. We also developed a model for the probability of pDNA and cell membrane contact during electrotransfer.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Helena Cindric, Damijan Miklavcic, Francois H. Cornelis, Bor Kos
Summary: Electroporation has sparked great interest in medical applications. This study presents an algorithm that optimizes electrode positions based on spatial information of the electric field distribution in the target tissue. The algorithm successfully applies to different spinal segments, tumor sizes, and locations within the vertebra. It significantly reduces the time and expertise required for treatment planning of vertebral tumors.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Aleksandra Cvetkoska, Janja Dermol-Cerne, Damijan Miklavcic, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Bostjan Markelc, Gregor Sersa, Matej Rebersek
Summary: In this study, a new pulse generator, applicator, and pulse delivery protocol for gene electrotransfer (GET) to skin cells were developed. The results showed that the proposed pulse delivery protocol resulted in higher gene expression in mouse skin cells compared to the currently used pulse generator, applicator, and pulse delivery protocol.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Rok Smerc, David A. A. Ramirez, Samo Mahnic-Kalamiza, Janja Dermol-Cerne, Daniel C. C. Sigg, Lars M. M. Mattison, Paul A. A. Iaizzo, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of electric field orientation in anisotropic muscle tissue on irreversible electroporation damage. In vivo experiments were conducted on porcine skeletal muscle, with the electric field applied parallel or perpendicular to the muscle fibers. Results showed that lesions in the parallel group were consistently smaller and narrower than those in the perpendicular group. The study concludes that muscle anisotropy is a significant factor in determining electric field distribution in electroporation applications. Significance: 8/10
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Lars Mattison, Atul Verma, Khaldoun G. Tarakji, Tobias Reichlin, Gerhard Hindricks, Kevin L. Sack, Birce Onal, Megan M. Schmidt, Damijan Miklavcic, Daniel C. Sigg
Summary: In this study, it was found that contact force in pulsed field ablation (PFA) had minimal effects on lesion dimensions, with only a small increase in depth, width, and volume of the lesions. The importance lies in achieving tissue contact rather than the force applied.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tjasa Potocnik, Alenka Macek Lebar, Spela Kos, Matej Rebersek, Eva Pirc, Gregor Sersa, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: The mechanisms and optimization strategies of nucleic acid delivery with gene electrotransfer (GET) are still not well understood. This article reviews the current state of knowledge through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of in vitro GET studies, emphasizing the importance of parameter selection and result evaluation.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jessica Genovese, Marko Strucic, Igor Sersa, Vitalij Novickij, Pietro Rocculi, Damijan Miklavcic, Samo Mahnic-Kalamiza, Matej Kranjc
Summary: Using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography, we investigated the non-uniform effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment on plant tissues such as apple, potato, and carrot. The results showed that the distribution of T2 relaxation times became increasingly inhomogeneous as the complexity of the tissue structure increased. The feasibility and potential of using the T2 mapping technique to analyze the effects of PEF on plant tissue structures were demonstrated.
Article
Oncology
Angelika Vizintin, Stefan Markovic, Janez Scancar, Jerneja Kladnik, Iztok Turel, Damijan Miklavcic
Summary: The study found that equivalent nanosecond pulses are equally effective in electrochemotherapy as standardly used 8 x 100 mu s pulses. The number of intracellular cisplatin molecules strongly correlates with cell survival for B16F1 cells, but less for CHO cells, implying the possible involvement of other mechanisms in electrochemotherapy. High-voltage electric pulses do not alter the structure of cisplatin.
RADIOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Katja Balantic, Damijan Miklavcic, Peter Kramar
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
