User:Sambohrman

There are two types of electroporation: reversible and irreversible. Both types of electroporation begin when a scientist applies an electrical pulse to cells. During reversible electroporation the pulse causes the cell membrane to become temporarily permeable, allowing the scientist to insert material (DNA or drugs, for example) into the cell. Because the electrical pulse only causes transient permeability, the membrane closes and the new material becomes part of the cell.

Electroporation becomes irreversible when the current reaches a slightly higher threshold. When this happens, instead of reforming, the electrical pulse destroys the cell membrane and kills the cells.

Cleaning Applications
Because irreversible electroporation results in cell death, it is useful for killing bacteria. New technologies use irreversible electroporation to kill bacteria in household and medical settings. Orbio Technologies use irreversible electroporation in its Activeion household cleaning devices.

Medical Applications
Irreversible electroporation can be used to kill biofilms of bacteria that build up on medical devices such as catheters. Antibiotic treatment only kills the outer layers of bacteria in films, leaving patients vulnerable to infection. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that supplementing antibiotics with irreversible electroporation significantly improves the bacteria kill rate. In this application, irreversible electroporation is also referred to as the bioelectric effect.

Irreversible electroporation has been found to destroy target cells, while leaving neighboring cells unaffected. As such, it is promising technique for removing tumors.