10.11. Cell Suspensions

10.11.1. Electroporation and Electrofusion

Electroporation is the phenomenon in which cell membrane permeability to ions and macromolecules is increased by exposing the cell to short (microsecond to millisecond) high-voltage electric pulses (Weaver, 2003). Although the mechanism for electroporation is not yet completely understood, experiments show that the application of electrical pulses can have different effects on the cell membrane as a function of various pulse parameters—such as amplitude, duration, pulse shape, and repetition rate (Mir, 2001). As a function of these parameters, the application of the electrical pulse can have no effect, can have a transient effect known as reversible electroporation, or can cause ...

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