Electroporation: an arsenal of application

Abstract

Electroporation is a way to induce nanometersized membrane pore for exogenous substances delivery into cytoplasm using an artificial electric field. Now it was widely used for molecules transfer especially in molecular experiments and genetic aspects. In recent years, modern electroporation on the embryo was developed, whose most important point is that it adopts low energy and rectangular pulse that could obtain high transfection efficiency and low damage to the embryo. This paper reviewed on the pool of application: from lab works to human clinical treatments.

Non-Invasive Delivery of dsRNA into De-Waxed Tick Eggs by Electroporation

“…Electroporation is a well-established technique used to deliver DNA or dsRNA, plasmid, protein and drugs into cells [ 2 , 4 – 6 ]. Double-stranded RNA delivery by electroporation is achieved applying high electrical voltage short pulses that increase the potential of membrane transport and promote the formation of transient aqueous pores in lipid bilayer, allowing macromolecules to migrate through these pores [ 7 ]. While electroporation enhances genetic material delivery into most cells, the tick eggs wax coat hampers dsRNA delivery into tick embryos.…”

Single cell and neural process experimentation using laterally applied electrical fields between pairs of closely apposed microelectrodes with vertical sidewalls

“…Electroporation has emerged as a versatile and widely used mechanism for intracellular delivery of membrane-impermeable molecules and gene transfections. For single cell electroporation and delivery, numerous methods have been developed for both in vivo and in vitro settings but usually require the positioning of user-operated electrodes, capillaries, or micropipettes to address one cell or a small group of cells at a time (Fox et al, 2006; Olofsson et al, 2003; Yuan, 2007). More recently, microelectrode arrays (Huang et al, 2007; Jain and Muthuswamy, 2007; Lin et al, 2004; Olofsson et al, 2003) and microfluidic devices (Fox et al, 2006; Olofsson et al, 2003) have also been developed for such uses.…”

“…Microelectrodes have typically been used to stimulate and record signals from electrically active cells, such as neurons and muscle cells (Ravula et al, 2006; Stett et al, 2003; Taketani and Baudry, 2006). However, microelectrodes have also been used to transiently open cell membranes via electroporation to deliver normally impermeant materials, such as macromolecules and genetic material, into cells (Chang et al, 1992; Fox et al, 2006; Huang et al, 2007; Jain and Muthuswamy, 2007; Lee et al, 2006; Lin et al, 2004; Olofsson et al, 2003; Yuan, 2007). More recently, AC electrical fields have been used to spatially manipulate or trap cells based on the principle of dielectrophoresis (Albrecht et al, 2004; Gascoyne and Vykoukal, 2002; Voldman et al, 2002; Wang et al, 2007).…”

Single neuron electroporation in manipulating and measuring the central nervous system

“…Therefore one important standard in judging the application of single neuron electroporation is the variety of substances that can be delivered. In the past, dyes, heavy metal ions, genetic materials, proteins (including enzymes and antibodies), and many chemicals have been tested for their potential to be used in electroporation [ 9 ]. The general in vivo electroporation to the brain with applications on gene screening (gain- and loss- of function) and gene therapy have already been put into practice [ 13 ].…”

“…not destabilized) condition within minutes as the electrical pulses ceased [6]. Following the first success on plasmid introduction to mammalian cells in 1982 [7,8], similar successes have been achieved on plant cells, bacteria cells, and yeasts [9]. …”