Electroporation of Cells

[clokke76]

Hello Happy NewYEAR!
I have a question.

How does one do electroporation? What kind of equipment is involved?
Also is there any effect on the cells due to the current?

thanx

[pankajghotkule@gmail.com]

Electroporation, or electropermeabilization, is a significant increase in the electrical conductivity and permeability of the cell plasma membrane caused by an externally applied electrical field. It is usually used in molecular biology as a way of introducing some substance into a cell, such as loading it with a molecular probe, a drug that can change the cell's function, or a piece of coding DNA.

Pores are formed when the voltage across a plasma membrane exceeds its dielectric strength. If the strength of the applied electrical field and/or duration of exposure to it are properly chosen, the pores formed by the electrical pulse reseal after a short period of time, during which extracellular compounds have a chance to enter into the cell. However, excessive exposure of live cells to electrical fields can cause apoptosis and/or necrosis - the processes that result in cell death.