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Electroporation Theory

Concepts and Mechanisms

  • Protocol
Electroporation Protocols for Microorganisms

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 47))

Abstract

Application of strong electric field pulses to cells and tissue is known to cause some type of structural rearrangement of the cell membrane. Significant progress has been made by adopting the hypothesis that some of these rearrangements consist of temporary aqueous pathways (“pores”), with the electric field playing the dual role of causing pore formation and providing a local driving force for ionic and molecular transport through the pores. Introduction of DNA into cells in vitro is now the most common application. With imagination, however, many other uses seem likely. For example, in vitro electroporation has been used to introduce into cells enzymes, antibodies, and other biochemical reagents for intracellular assays; to load larger cells preferentially with molecules in the presence of many smaller cells; to introduce particles into cells, including viruses; to kill cells purposefully under otherwise mild conditions; and to insert membrane macromolecules into the cell membrane itself. Only recently has the exploration of in vivo electroporation for use with intact tissue begun. Several possible applications have been identified, viz. combined electroporation and anticancer drugs for improved solid tumor chemotherapy, localized gene therapy, transdermal drug delivery, and noninvasive extraction of analytes for biochemical assays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

    James C. Weaver

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  1. James C. Weaver
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Biology, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, MA

    Jac A. Nickoloff

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© 1995 Humana Press Inc.

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Weaver, J.C. (1995). Electroporation Theory. In: Nickoloff, J.A. (eds) Electroporation Protocols for Microorganisms. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 47. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-310-4:1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-310-4:1

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-310-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-534-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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