Old Dominion University Research Foundation

Olga N Pakhomova

Andrei G Pakhomov

Shu Xiao

Claudia Muratori

Maura Casciola

Provided herein are methods of generating a biologically effective unipolar nanosecond electric pulse by superposing two biologically ineffective bipolar nanosecond electric pulses and related aspects, such as electroporation and/or therapeutic applications of these methods to non-invasively target electrostimulation (ES) selectively to deep tissues and organs.

Targeted remote electrostimulation by interference of bipolar nanosecond pulses

Systems and methods of enhancing membrane permeabilization in a cell are provided. An example method includes disposing the cell between a first electrode and a second electrode and applying a plurality of electrical pulses between the first electrode and the second electrode. In the systems and methods, the plurality of electrical pulses include at least two trains of pulses separated by an interval greater than about 10 s. Further, the amplitude of the electrical pulses is selected to be greater than about 0.2 kV/cm.

Electroporation-induced electrosensitization

Methods and apparatuses (systems, devices, etc.) for treating biological tissue to evoke one or more desirable biological and/or physiological effects using pulsed electric fields in the sub-microsecond range at very low electric field strength (e.g., less than 1 kV/cm) but at high (e.g., megahertz) frequencies.

Megahertz compression of nanosecond pulse bursts

Methods of enhancing membrane permeabilization in a cell are provided. A method includes disposing the cell between a first electrode and a second electrode and applying a plurality of electrical pulses between the first electrode and the second electrode. In the method, the plurality of electrical pulses include at least two trains of pulses separated by an interval greater than about 10 s. Further, the amplitude of the electrical pulses is selected to be greater than about 0.2 kV/cm.

The methods disclosed herein are directed towards improving ablation efficiency associated with applying nanosecond electric pulses (nsEP) to tissue. In particular, applying nsEP to tissue can open pores in the cellular membranes of the tissue. These pores can be kept open longer by cooling the tissue. The combined application of nsEP and the cooling of tissue may have synergistic effects on triggering apoptosis of cells in the tissue. This allows for numerous practical benefits associated with nsEP-based tissue ablation to be realized. For instance, nsEP of lower pulse strength or lower numbers of pulses to be used, which can be provided by smaller pulse generators operating on less power.

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Norfolk, VA, United States of America

Olga N Pakhomova