Electroporation as a New Cancer Treatment Technique: A Review on the Mechanisms of Action

Electroporation is a highly effective method to increase permeability of cell membrane by using series of short intense electric pulses. Using this technique, we can introduce small and large molecules into cells. The electroporation of biological membranes has various applications in molecular biology and medicine. Despite the numerous applications of electroporation, the detailed effects of electric pulse on biological membranes as well as exact mechanisms of pore formation in living cells are not well understood. Several in-vitro and in-vivo experimental studies have been conducted to determine the mechanisms of action of electroporation in various types of membranes. Because of the small spatial and fast temporal scales of this process, direct observation of electroporation is difficult, theoretical models and molecular dynamic simulations have been developed to facilitate the interpretation of experimental data and the understanding of the mechanisms of action of electroporation. The role of phospholipids in respond to external electric fields, behavior of water dipoles in the complex electric field landscape of the membrane interface and reorganization of water dipoles in pore formation process have been proposed in these studies. Pore characteristics such as life time, ion selectivity, size, kinetics of formation as well as number of pores are significant factors in the proposed mechanism of action. The present study reviews the different mechanisms of action of electroporation proposed by different experimental and modeling studies.