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Fesmire CC, Williamson RH, Petrella RA, Kaufman JD, Topasna N, Sano MB. Integrated Time Nanosecond Pulse Irreversible Electroporation (INSPIRE): Assessment of Dose, Temperature, and Voltage on Experimental and Clinical Treatment Outcomes. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2024; 71:1511-1520. [PMID: 38145519 PMCID: PMC11035095 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2023.3340718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study sought to investigate a novel strategy using temperature-controlled delivery of nanosecond pulsed electric fields as an alternative to the 50-100 microsecond pulses used for irreversible electroporation. METHODS INSPIRE treatments were carried out at two temperatures in 3D tumor models using doses between 0.001 s and 0.1 s. The resulting treatment zones were quantified using viability staining and lethal electric field intensities were determined numerically. Computational modeling was then used to determine parameters necessary for INSPIRE treatments to achieve equivalent treatment zones to clinical electroporation treatments and evaluate the potential for these treatments to induce deleterious thermal damage. RESULTS Lethal thresholds between 1109 and 709 V/cm were found for nominal 0.01 s treatments with pulses between 350 ns and 2000 ns at physiological temperatures. Further increases in dose resulted in significant decreases in lethal thresholds. Given these experimental results, treatment zones comparable to clinical electroporation are possible by increasing the dose and voltage used with nanosecond duration pulses. Temperature-controlled simulations indicate minimal thermal cell death while achieving equivalent treatment volumes to clinical electroporation. CONCLUSION Nanosecond electrical pulses can achieve comparable outcomes to traditional electroporation provided sufficient electrical doses or voltages are applied. The use of temperature-controlled delivery may minimize thermal damage during treatment. SIGNIFICANCE Intense muscle stimulation and the need for cardiac gating have limited irreversible electroporation. Nanosecond pulses can alleviate these challenges, but traditionally have produced significantly smaller treatment zones. This study suggests that larger ablation volumes may be possible with the INSPIRE approach and that future in vivo studies are warranted.
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Jacobs Iv EJ, Campelo SN, Charlton A, Altreuter S, Davalos RV. Characterizing reversible, irreversible, and calcium electroporation to generate a burst-dependent dynamic conductivity curve. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 155:108580. [PMID: 37788520 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The relationships between burst number, reversible, irreversible, and calcium electroporation have not been comprehensively evaluated in tumor tissue-mimics. Our findings indicate that electroporation effects saturate with a rate constant (τ) of 20 bursts for both conventional and high frequency waveforms (R2 > 0.88), with the separation between reversible and irreversible electroporation thresholds converging at 50 bursts. We find the lethal thresholds for calcium electroporation are statistically similar to reversible electroporation (R2 > 0.99). We then develop a burst-dependent dynamic conductivity curve that now incorporates electroporation effects due to both the electric field magnitude and burst number. Simulated ablation and thermal damage volumes vary significantly between finite element models using either the conventional or new burst-dependent dynamic conductivity curve (p < 0.05). Lastly, for clinically relevant protocols, thermal damage is indicated to not begin until 50 bursts, with maximum nonthermal ablation volumes at 100 bursts (1.5-13% thermal damage by volume). We find that >100 bursts generated negligible increases in ablation volumes with 40-70% thermal damage by volume at 300 bursts. Our results illustrate the need for considering burst number in minimizing thermal damage, choosing adjuvant therapies, and in modeling electroporation effects at low burst numbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Jacobs Iv
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech - Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sabrina N Campelo
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Alyssa Charlton
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Sara Altreuter
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Rafael V Davalos
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech - Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Fesmire CC, Peal B, Ruff J, Moyer E, McParland TJ, Derks K, O’Neil E, Emke C, Johnson B, Ghosh S, Petrella RA, DeWitt MR, Prange T, Fogle C, Sano MB. Investigation of integrated time nanosecond pulse irreversible electroporation against spontaneous equine melanoma. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1232650. [PMID: 38352036 PMCID: PMC10861690 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1232650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Integrated time nanosecond pulse irreversible electroporation (INSPIRE) is a novel tumor ablation modality that employs high voltage, alternating polarity waveforms to induce cell death in a well-defined volume while sparing the underlying tissue. This study aimed to demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of INSPIRE against spontaneous melanoma in standing, awake horses. Methods A custom applicator and a pulse generation system were utilized in a pilot study to treat horses presenting with spontaneous melanoma. INSPIRE treatments were administered to 32 tumors across 6 horses and an additional 13 tumors were followed to act as untreated controls. Tumors were tracked over a 43-85 day period following a single INSPIRE treatment. Pulse widths of 500ns and 2000ns with voltages between 1000 V and 2000 V were investigated to determine the effect of these variables on treatment outcomes. Results Treatments administered at the lowest voltage (1000 V) reduced tumor volumes by 11 to 15%. Higher voltage (2000 V) treatments reduced tumor volumes by 84 to 88% and eliminated 33% and 80% of tumors when 500 ns and 2000 ns pulses were administered, respectively. Discussion Promising results were achieved without the use of chemotherapeutics, the use of general anesthesia, or the need for surgical resection in regions which are challenging to keep sterile. This novel therapeutic approach has the potential to expand the role of pulsed electric fields in veterinary patients, especially when general anesthesia is contraindicated, and warrants future studies to demonstrate the efficacy of INSPIRE as a solid tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris C. Fesmire
- Bioelectricity Lab, UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Bridgette Peal
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Jennifer Ruff
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Elizabeth Moyer
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Thomas J. McParland
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Kobi Derks
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Erin O’Neil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Carrie Emke
- Clinical Studies Core, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Brianna Johnson
- Clinical Studies Core, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Shatorupa Ghosh
- Bioelectricity Lab, UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Ross A. Petrella
- Bioelectricity Lab, UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Matthew R. DeWitt
- Bioelectricity Lab, UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Timo Prange
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Callie Fogle
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Michael B. Sano
- Bioelectricity Lab, UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Jacobs EJ, Aycock KN, Santos PP, Tuohy JL, Davalos RV. Rapid estimation of electroporation-dependent tissue properties in canine lung tumors using a deep neural network. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 244:115777. [PMID: 37924653 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of electroporation treatments depends on the application of a critical electric field over the targeted tissue volume. Both the electric field and temperature distribution strongly depend on the tissue-specific electrical properties, which both differ between patients in healthy and malignant tissues and change in an electric field-dependent manner from the electroporation process itself. Therefore, tissue property estimations are paramount for treatment planning with electroporation therapies. Ex vivo methods to find electrical tissue properties often misrepresent the targeted tissue, especially when translating results to tumors. A voltage ramp is an in situ method that applies a series of increasing electric potentials across treatment electrodes and measures the resulting current. Here, we develop a robust deep neural network, trained on finite element model simulations, to directly predict tissue properties from a measured voltage ramp. There was minimal test error (R2>0.94;p<0.0001) in three important electric tissue properties. Further, our model was validated to correctly predict the complete dynamic conductivity curve in a previously characterized ex vivo liver model (R2>0.93;p<0.0001) within 100 s from probe insertion, showing great utility for a clinical application. Lastly, we characterize the first reported electrical tissue properties of lung tumors from five canine patients (R2>0.99;p<0.0001). We believe this platform can be incorporated prior to treatment to quickly ascertain patient-specific tissue properties required for electroporation treatment planning models or real-time treatment prediction algorithms. Further, this method can be used over traditional ex vivo methods for in situ tissue characterization with clinically relevant geometries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Jacobs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Kenneth N Aycock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Pedro P Santos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Joanne L Tuohy
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Rafael V Davalos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Agnass P, Rodermond HM, van Veldhuisen E, Vogel JA, Ten Cate R, van Lienden KP, van Gulik TM, Franken NAP, Oei AL, Kok HP, Besselink MG, Crezee J. Quantitative analysis of contribution of mild and moderate hyperthermia to thermal ablation and sensitization of irreversible electroporation of pancreatic cancer cells. J Therm Biol 2023; 115:103619. [PMID: 37437370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an ablation modality that applies short, high-voltage electric pulses to unresectable cancers. Although considered a non-thermal technique, temperatures do increase during IRE. This temperature rise sensitizes tumor cells for electroporation as well as inducing partial direct thermal ablation. AIM To evaluate the extent to which mild and moderate hyperthermia enhance electroporation effects, and to establish and validate in a pilot study cell viability models (CVM) as function of both electroporation parameters and temperature in a relevant pancreatic cancer cell line. METHODS Several IRE-protocols were applied at different well-controlled temperature levels (37 °C ≤ T ≤ 46 °C) to evaluate temperature dependent cell viability at enhanced temperatures in comparison to cell viability at T = 37 °C. A realistic sigmoid CVM function was used based on thermal damage probability with Arrhenius Equation and cumulative equivalent minutes at 43 °C (CEM43°C) as arguments, and fitted to the experimental data using "Non-linear-least-squares"-analysis. RESULTS Mild (40 °C) and moderate (46 °C) hyperthermic temperatures boosted cell ablation with up to 30% and 95%, respectively, mainly around the IRE threshold Eth,50% electric-field strength that results in 50% cell viability. The CVM was successfully fitted to the experimental data. CONCLUSION Both mild- and moderate hyperthermia significantly boost the electroporation effect at electric-field strengths neighboring Eth,50%. Inclusion of temperature in the newly developed CVM correctly predicted both temperature-dependent cell viability and thermal ablation for pancreatic cancer cells exposed to a relevant range of electric-field strengths/pulse parameters and mild moderate hyperthermic temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Agnass
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - H M Rodermond
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Molecular Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - E van Veldhuisen
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - J A Vogel
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - R Ten Cate
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Molecular Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - K P van Lienden
- Department of Intervention Radiology, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands.
| | - T M van Gulik
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - N A P Franken
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Molecular Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - A L Oei
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Experimental Molecular Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - H P Kok
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - M G Besselink
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - J Crezee
- Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Radiation Oncology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Lv Y, Liu H, Feng Z, Zhang J, Chen G, Yao C. The Enlargement of Ablation Area by Electrolytic Irreversible Electroporation (E-IRE) Using Pulsed Field with Bias DC Field. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1964-1973. [PMID: 35852648 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-03017-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) by high-strength electric pulses is a biomedical technique that has been effectively used for minimally invasive tumor therapy while maintaining the functionality of adjacent important tissues, such as blood vessels and nerves. In general, pulse delivery using needle electrodes can create a reversible electroporation region beyond both the ablation area and the vicinity of the needle electrodes, limiting enlargement of the ablation area. Electrochemical therapy (EChT) can also be used to ablate a tumor near electrodes by electrolysis using a direct field with a constant current or voltage (DC field). Recently, reversible electroporated cells have been shown to be susceptible to electrolysis at relatively low doses. Reversible electroporation can also be combined with electrolysis for tissue ablation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to use electrolysis to remove the reversible electroporation area and thereby enlarge the ablation area in potato slices in vitro using a pulsed field with a bias DC field (constant voltage). We call this protocol electrolytic irreversible electroporation (E-IRE). The area over which the electrolytic effect induced a pH change was also measured. The results show that decreasing the pulse frequency using IRE alone is found to enlarge the ablation area. The ablation area generated by E-IRE is significantly larger than that generated by using IRE or EChT alone. The ablation area generated by E-IRE at 1 Hz is 109.5% larger than that generated by IRE, showing that the reversible electroporation region is transformed into an ablation region by electrolysis. The area with a pH change produced by E-IRE is larger than that produced by EChT alone. Decreasing the pulse frequency in the E-IRE protocol can further enlarge the ablation area. The results of this study are a preliminary indication that the E-IRE protocol can effectively enlarge the ablation area and enhance the efficacy of traditional IRE for use in ablating large tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanpeng Lv
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Heqing Liu
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Zhikui Feng
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Genyong Chen
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Chenguo Yao
- School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
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Di Gregorio E, Israel S, Staelens M, Tankel G, Shankar K, Tuszyński JA. The distinguishing electrical properties of cancer cells. Phys Life Rev 2022; 43:139-188. [PMID: 36265200 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, medical research has been primarily focused on the inherited aspect of cancers, despite the reality that only 5-10% of tumours discovered are derived from genetic causes. Cancer is a broad term, and therefore it is inaccurate to address it as a purely genetic disease. Understanding cancer cells' behaviour is the first step in countering them. Behind the scenes, there is a complicated network of environmental factors, DNA errors, metabolic shifts, and electrostatic alterations that build over time and lead to the illness's development. This latter aspect has been analyzed in previous studies, but how the different electrical changes integrate and affect each other is rarely examined. Every cell in the human body possesses electrical properties that are essential for proper behaviour both within and outside of the cell itself. It is not yet clear whether these changes correlate with cell mutation in cancer cells, or only with their subsequent development. Either way, these aspects merit further investigation, especially with regards to their causes and consequences. Trying to block changes at various levels of occurrence or assisting in their prevention could be the key to stopping cells from becoming cancerous. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge regarding the electrical landscape of cells is much needed. We review four essential electrical characteristics of cells, providing a deep understanding of the electrostatic changes in cancer cells compared to their normal counterparts. In particular, we provide an overview of intracellular and extracellular pH modifications, differences in ionic concentrations in the cytoplasm, transmembrane potential variations, and changes within mitochondria. New therapies targeting or exploiting the electrical properties of cells are developed and tested every year, such as pH-dependent carriers and tumour-treating fields. A brief section regarding the state-of-the-art of these therapies can be found at the end of this review. Finally, we highlight how these alterations integrate and potentially yield indications of cells' malignancy or metastatic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Di Gregorio
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Autem Therapeutics, 35 South Main Street, Hanover, 03755, NH, USA
| | - Simone Israel
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Autem Therapeutics, 35 South Main Street, Hanover, 03755, NH, USA
| | - Michael Staelens
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada
| | - Gabriella Tankel
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, ON, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211 116 Street NW, Edmonton, T6G 1H9, AB, Canada
| | - Jack A Tuszyński
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, T6G 1Z2, AB, Canada.
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Novickij V, Rembiałkowska N, Szlasa W, Kulbacka J. Does the shape of the electric pulse matter in electroporation? Front Oncol 2022; 12:958128. [PMID: 36185267 PMCID: PMC9518825 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.958128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electric pulses are widely used in biology, medicine, industry, and food processing. Numerous studies indicate that electroporation (EP) is a pulse-dependent process, and the electric pulse shape and duration strongly determine permeabilization efficacy. EP protocols are precisely planned in terms of the size and charge of the molecules, which will be delivered to the cell. In reversible and irreversible EP applications, rectangular or sine, polar or bipolar pulses are commonly used. The usage of pulses of the asymmetric shape is still limited to high voltage and low voltage (HV/LV) sequences in the context of gene delivery, while EP-based applications of ultra-short asymmetric pulses are just starting to emerge. This review emphasizes the importance and role of the pulse shape for membrane permeabilization by EP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitalij Novickij
- Faculty of Electronics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Vilnius TECH), Vilnius, Lithuania
- *Correspondence: Vitalij Novickij, ; Julita Kulbacka,
| | - Nina Rembiałkowska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Szlasa
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- *Correspondence: Vitalij Novickij, ; Julita Kulbacka,
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Han X, Zhang N, Zhang Y, Li Z, Wang Y, Mao L, He T, Li Q, Zhao J, Chen X, Li Y, Qin Z, Lv Y, Ren F. Survival model database of human digestive system cells exposed to electroporation pulses: An in vitro and in silico study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:948562. [PMID: 36133930 PMCID: PMC9484541 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.948562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives This study aimed to establish a mathematical survival model database containing cell-specific coefficients from human digestive system cells exposed to electroporation pulses (EPs). Materials and methods A total of 20 types of human digestive system cell lines were selected to investigate the effect of EPs on cell viability. Cell viability was measured after exposure to various pulse settings, and a cell survival model was established using the Peleg-Fermi model. Next, the cell-specific coefficients of each cell line were determined. Results Cell viability tended to decrease when exposed to stronger electric field strength (EFS), longer pulse duration, and more pulse number, but the decreasing tendency varied among different cell lines. When exposed to a lower EFS (<1,000 V/cm), only a slight decrease in cell viability occurred. All cell lines showed a similar tendency: the extent of electrical injury (EI) increased with the increase in pulse number and duration. However, there existed differences in heat sensitivity among organs. Conclusions This database can be used for the application of electroporation-based treatment (EBT) in the digestive system to predict cell survival and tissue injury distribution during the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Nana Zhang
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuchi Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhuoqun Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yingxue Wang
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lujing Mao
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianshuai He
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qingshan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiawen Zhao
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xue Chen
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yixuan Li
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zitong Qin
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,*Correspondence: Yi Lv
| | - Fenggang Ren
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,Fenggang Ren
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10
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Rodriguez Osuna IA, Cobelli P, Olaiz N. Bubble Formation in Pulsed Electric Field Technology May Pose Limitations. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1234. [PMID: 36014157 PMCID: PMC9414362 DOI: 10.3390/mi13081234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Currently, increasing amounts of pulsed electric fields (PEF) are employed to improve a person's life quality. This technology is based on the application of the shortest high voltage electrical pulse, which generates an increment over the cell membrane permeability. When applying these pulses, an unwanted effect is electrolysis, which could alter the treatment. This work focused on the study of the local variations of the electric field and current density around the bubbles formed by the electrolysis of water by PEF technology and how these variations alter the electroporation protocol. The assays, in the present work, were carried out at 2 KV/cm, 1.2 KV/cm and 0.6 KV/cm in water, adjusting the conductivity with NaCl at 2365 μs/cm with a single pulse of 800 μs. The measurements of the bubble diameter variations due to electrolysis as a function of time allowed us to develop an experimental model of the behavior of the bubble diameter vs. time, which was used for simulation purposes. In the in silico model, we calculated that the electric field and observed an increment of current density around the bubble can be up to four times the base value due to the edge effect around it, while the thermal effects were undesirable due to the short duration of the pulses (variations of ±0.1 °C are undesirable). This research revealed that the rise of electric current is not just because of the shift in electrical conductivity due to chemical and thermal effects, but also varies with the bubble coverage over the electrode surface and variations in the local electric field by edge effect. All these variations can conduce to unwanted limitations over PEF treatment. In the future, we recommend tests on the variation of local current conductivity and electric fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Aaron Rodriguez Osuna
- Laboratorio de Sistemas Complejos, Departamento de Computación, Instituto de Física del Plasma, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina;
| | - Pablo Cobelli
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina;
- Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires, CONICET,
Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Nahuel Olaiz
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina;
- Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires, CONICET,
Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
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11
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Modification of a Ready-Made High-Voltage Pulse Generator for Non-Thermal Irreversible Electroporation. Bull Exp Biol Med 2022; 173:276-280. [DOI: 10.1007/s10517-022-05533-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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12
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Aycock KN, Vadlamani RA, Jacobs EJ, Imran KM, Verbridge S, Allen IC, Manuchehrabadi N, Davalos RV. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Parameters Affecting High-frequency Irreversible Electroporation for Prostate Cancer Ablation. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:1131491. [PMID: 35044426 DOI: 10.1115/1.4053595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
While the primary goal of focal therapy for prostate cancer (PCa) is conserving patient quality of life by reducing oncological burden, available modalities use thermal energy or whole-gland radiation which can damage critical neurovascular structures within the prostate and increase risk of genitourinary dysfunction. High-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) is a promising alternative ablation modality that utilizes bursts of pulsed electric fields (PEFs) to destroy aberrant cells via targeted membrane damage. Due to its non-thermal mechanism, H-FIRE offers several advantages over state-of-the-art treatments, but waveforms have not been optimized for treatment of PCa. In this study, we characterize lethal electric field thresholds (EFTs) for H-FIRE waveforms with three different pulse widths as well as three interpulse delays in vitro and compare them to conventional IRE. Experiments were performed in non-neoplastic and malignant prostate cells to determine the effect of waveforms on both targeted (malignant) and adjacent (non-neoplastic) tissue. A numerical modeling approach was developed to estimate the clinical effects of each waveform including extent of non-thermal ablation, undesired thermal damage, and nerve excitation. Our findings indicate that H-FIRE waveforms with pulse durations of 5 and 10 µs provide large ablations comparable to IRE with tolerable levels of thermal damage and minimized muscle contractions. Lower duration (2 µs) H-FIRE waveforms exhibit the least amount of muscle contractions but require increased voltages which may be accompanied by unwanted thermal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth N Aycock
- Virginia Tech, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, 325 Stanger St, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Ram Anand Vadlamani
- Virginia Tech, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, 325 Stanger St, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Edward J Jacobs
- Virginia Tech, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, 325 Stanger St, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Khan Mohammad Imran
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, 205 Duck Pond Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Scott Verbridge
- Virginia Tech, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, 325 Stanger St, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Irving C Allen
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, 205 Duck Pond Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | | | - Rafael V Davalos
- Virginia Tech, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, 325 Stanger St, Blacksburg, VA 24061
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13
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Jenkins EPW, Finch A, Gerigk M, Triantis IF, Watts C, Malliaras GG. Electrotherapies for Glioblastoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2100978. [PMID: 34292672 PMCID: PMC8456216 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-thermal, intermediate frequency (100-500 kHz) electrotherapies present a unique therapeutic strategy to treat malignant neoplasms. Here, pulsed electric fields (PEFs) which induce reversible or irreversible electroporation (IRE) and tumour-treating fields (TTFs) are reviewed highlighting the foundations, advances, and considerations of each method when applied to glioblastoma (GBM). Several biological aspects of GBM that contribute to treatment complexity (heterogeneity, recurrence, resistance, and blood-brain barrier(BBB)) and electrophysiological traits which are suggested to promote glioma progression are described. Particularly, the biological responses at the cellular and molecular level to specific parameters of the electrical stimuli are discussed offering ways to compare these parameters despite the lack of a universally adopted physical description. Reviewing the literature, a disconnect is found between electrotherapy techniques and how they target the biological complexities of GBM that make treatment difficult in the first place. An attempt is made to bridge the interdisciplinary gap by mapping biological characteristics to different methods of electrotherapy, suggesting important future research topics and directions in both understanding and treating GBM. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper that attempts an in-tandem assessment of the biological effects of different aspects of intermediate frequency electrotherapy methods, thus offering possible strategies toward GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise P. W. Jenkins
- Division of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Alina Finch
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic ScienceUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
| | - Magda Gerigk
- Division of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Iasonas F. Triantis
- Department of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringCity, University of LondonLondonEC1V 0HBUK
| | - Colin Watts
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic ScienceUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
| | - George G. Malliaras
- Division of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
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14
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Beitel-White N, Lorenzo MF, Zhao Y, Brock RM, Coutermarsh-Ott S, Allen IC, Manuchehrabadi N, Davalos RV. Multi-Tissue Analysis on the Impact of Electroporation on Electrical and Thermal Properties. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 68:771-782. [PMID: 32746081 PMCID: PMC8048145 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2020.3013572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tissue electroporation is achieved by applying a series of electric pulses to destabilize cell membranes within the target tissue. The treatment volume is dictated by the electric field distribution, which depends on the pulse parameters and tissue type and can be readily predicted using numerical methods. These models require the relevant tissue properties to be known beforehand. This study aims to quantify electrical and thermal properties for three different tissue types relevant to current clinical electroporation. METHODS Pancreatic, brain, and liver tissue were harvested from pigs, then treated with IRE pulses in a parallel-plate configuration. Resulting current and temperature readings were used to calculate the conductivity and its temperature dependence for each tissue type. Finally, a computational model was constructed to examine the impact of differences between tissue types. RESULTS Baseline conductivity values (mean 0.11, 0.14, and 0.12 S/m) and temperature coefficients of conductivity (mean 2.0, 2.3, and 1.2 % per degree Celsius) were calculated for pancreas, brain, and liver, respectively. The accompanying computational models suggest field distribution and thermal damage volumes are dependent on tissue type. CONCLUSION The three tissue types show similar electrical and thermal responses to IRE, though brain tissue exhibits the greatest differences. The results also show that tissue type plays a role in the expected ablation and thermal damage volumes. SIGNIFICANCE The conductivity and its changes due to heating are expected to have a marked impact on the ablation volume. Incorporating these tissue properties aids in the prediction and optimization of electroporation-based therapies.
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