TL;DR: A new type of field-cell interaction, "Intracellular Electromanipulation", by means of nanosecond pulses at electric fields exceeding 50 kV/cm has been recently added to known bioelectric effects, having the potential to affect transport processes across subcellular membranes, and may be used for gene transfer into cell nuclei.
Abstract: Electric phenomena play an important role in biophysics. Bioelectric processes control the ion transport processes across membranes, and are the basis for information transfer along neurons. These electrical effects are generally triggered by chemical processes. However, it is also possible to control such cell functions and transport processes by applying pulsed electric fields. This area of bioengineering, bioelectrics, offers new applications for pulsed power technology. One such application is prevention of biofouling, an effect that is based on reversible electroporation of cell membranes. Pulsed electric fields of several kV/cm amplitude and submicrosecond duration have been found effective in preventing the growth of aquatic nuisance species on surfaces. Reversible electroporation is also used for medical applications, e.g. for delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor cells, for gene therapy, and for transdermal drug delivery. Higher electric fields cause irreversible membrane damage. Pulses in the microsecond range with electric field intensities in the tens of kV/cm are being used for bacterial decontamination of water and liquid food. A new type of field-cell interaction, "Intracellular Electromanipulation", by means of nanosecond pulses at electric fields exceeding 50 kV/cm has been recently added to known bioelectric effects. It is based on capacitive coupling to cell substructures, has therefore the potential to affect transport processes across subcellular membranes, and may be used for gene transfer into cell nuclei. There are also indications that it triggers intracellular processes, such as programmed cell death, an effect, which can be used for cancer treatment. In order to generate the required electric fields for these processes, high voltage, high current sources are required. The pulse duration needs to be short to prevent thermal effects. Pulse power technology is the enabling technology for bioelectrics. The field of bioelectrics, therefore opens up a new research area for pulse power engineers, with fascinating applications in biology and medicine.
TL;DR: The concept of the required pulsed power sources, their design, operation, and the necessary diagnostics are described and two types of pulse generators based on the Blumlein line principle are developed and are described here.
Abstract: Modeling and experimental studies have shown that pulsed electric fields of nanosecond duration and megavolt per meter amplitude affect subcellular structures but do not lead to the formation of large pores in the outer membrane. This "intracellular electromanipulation" requires the use of pulse generators which provide extremely high power but low energy pulses. In this study, we describe the concept of the required pulsed power sources, their design, operation, and the necessary diagnostics. Two types of pulse generators based on the Blumlein line principle have been developed and are described here. One system is designed to treat a large number of cells in cuvettes holding volumes from 0.1 to 0.8 ml. Pulses of up to 40 kV amplitude, with a duration of 10 ns and a rise time close to 1 ns can be applied to the cuvette. For an electrode gap of 1 mm this voltage corresponds to an average electric field of 40 MV/m. The second system allows for real time observation of individual cells under a microscope. It generates pulses of 10-300 ns duration with a rise time of 3.5 ns and voltage amplitudes up to 1 kV. Connected to a microreactor with an electrode gap of 100 microm, electric fields up to 10 MV/m are applied.
TL;DR: A multi-layer micro-electrode structure has been developed for the selective manipulation and separation of bioparticles using travelling field dielectrophoresis effects, and is envisaged to form integral components in the development of `biofactory on a chip' technology.
Abstract: A multi-layer micro-electrode structure has been developed for the selective manipulation and separation of bioparticles using travelling field dielectrophoresis effects. An important feature is that, in the separation process, the selected particles move in a stationary supporting fluid. Stationary suspensions of viable and non-viable yeast cells were used as a model system to demonstrate the general application of this device for the selective retention or transport of bioparticles in suspended mixtures. The efficiency of this process depends on the dielectric properties of the particles and their suspending medium, and is a sensitive function of the frequency of the travelling field. Apart from their use as particle separators, such micro-electrode devices are also envisaged to form integral components in the development of `biofactory on a chip' technology.
TL;DR: The nanoscale manipulation and charge transport properties of the [Fe(Htrz)2(trz)](BF4) spin-crossover compound is demonstrated and are attractive building blocks for nanoelectronic switching and memory devices.
Abstract: The nanoscale manipulation and charge transport properties of the [Fe(Htrz)2(trz)](BF4) spin-crossover compound is demonstrated. Such 1D spin-crossover nanostructures are attractive building blocks for nanoelectronic switching and memory devices.
TL;DR: Submicrosecond, intense pulsed electric fields applied to living cells achieve preferential effects on intracellular rather than surface membranes, potentially providing new approaches for selective/generalized cell or tissue ablation, growth stimulation and tissue remodeling.
Abstract: Development of technology to produce nanosecond duration pulsed electric fields has allowed examination of the effects of ultrashort duration, high intensity electric fields on living cells Theoretically, high intensity (MV/m) electric field applications with durations of less than one microsecond, when shortened toward nanoseconds, should increasingly affect intracellular rather than surface membranes of living cells Experimentally, square-wave, 60 ns duration, high energy (36-53 kV/cm) pulses applied in trains of 1-10 pulses result in progressive increases in the numbers of permeabilized intracellular granules in a human eosinophil cell model-without large surface membrane effects Electron micrographic examination of cells treated in this way demonstrates alteration of intracellular granule morphology consistent with permeabilization of granule membrane, ie, intracellular electromanipulation Continuous microscopic examination of individual living cells exposed to long or short duration pulsed electric field applications shows that permeabilization of surface membrane (median 5 minutes) with anodic preference (electroporation) and prompt cellular swelling follow a single, long duration (100 microsecond) pulse In contrast, after a single short duration (60 ns) pulse, onset of surface membrane permeability is delayed (median 17 minutes), the increased permeability shows no anodic preference, and cellular swelling is absent suggesting that these effects are due to intracellular electromanipulation rather than direct effects on the surface membrane Submicrosecond, intense pulsed electric fields applied to living cells achieve preferential effects on intracellular rather than surface membranes, potentially providing new approaches for selective/generalized cell or tissue ablation, growth stimulation and tissue remodeling