Microchamber setup characterization for nanosecond pulsed electric field exposure

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2011 Jun;58(6):1656-62. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2011.2108298. Epub 2011 Jan 28.

Abstract

Intracellular structures of biological cells can be disturbed by exposure to nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF). A microchamber-based delivery system mounted on a microscope setup for real-time exposure to nsPEF is studied in this paper. A numerical and experimental characterization of the delivery system is performed both in frequency and time domains. The microchamber delivery system presents a high impedance compared to classical 50 Ω loads. Its frequency behavior and limits are investigated using an in-house finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulator and through experimental measurements. High-voltage measurements for two nsPEF generators are carried out. The applied pulse voltage measured across the microchamber electrodes is ∼1 kV, corresponding to ∼10 MV/m electric fields in the microchamber. Depending on the nsPEF generator used, the measured pulse durations are equal to 3.0 and 4.2 ns, respectively. The voltage distribution provided by FDTD simulations indicates a good level of homogeneity across the microchamber electrodes. Experimental results include permeabilization of biological cells exposed to 3.0-ns, 10-MV/m PEFs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Electromagnetic Fields*
  • Electroporation / instrumentation*
  • Electroporation / methods*
  • Equipment Design
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Microtechnology / instrumentation*
  • Models, Theoretical*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes