Cancer Treatment Update: Non-Thermal Irreversible Electroporation

  Non-thermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) for cancer therapy is a technique introduced by Davalos and Rubinsky1,2 in 2005. The emphasis was on the term, ‘non-thermal’, because membrane electroporation was used to kill cancer cells while protecting lethal heating effects to nearby critical tissue structures. Possible reasons on how the use Read more…

Artist impression of the bipolar cellular membrane structure

Cells Treated by Electroporation

When an electric field is applied to living cells, their membrane suffers electrical stretch forces. Depending on the electric field amplitude and duration, the cell shape is deformed and free ions can be transported across the membrane. There are also additional osmotic forces and water leakage through the pore(s) formed. Read more…