Real time electroporation control for accurate and safe in vivo electrogene therapy

In vivo cell electroporation is the basis of DNA electrotransfer, an efficient method for non-viral gene therapy using naked DNA. The electric pulses have two roles, to permeabilize the target cell plasma membrane and to transport the DNA towards or across the permeabilized membrane by electrophoresis. For efficient electrotransfer, reversible undamaging target cell permeabilization is mandatory. We report the possibility to monitor in vivo cell electroporation during pulse delivery, and to adjust the electric field strength on real time, within a few microseconds after the beginning of the pulse, to ensure efficacy and safety of the procedure. A control algorithm was elaborated, implemented in a prototype device and tested ex vivo. Controlled pulses resulted in protection of the tissue where uncorrected excessive applied voltages lead to intense tissue damage and consecutive loss of gene transfer expressionGamtos mokslų fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta