Electroporation

Electroporation is a biophysical method widely used to introduce molecules (e.g. DNA, RNA, proteins, drug molecules, etc) into cells. It is based on the application of brief, high voltage electrical pulses, which cause temporary permeabilization of the cell membrane and enable the introduction of molecules from the extracellular environment into the cytoplasm. Electroporation is quick and minimally invasive, making it an ideal technique for the introduction of a variety of molecules into different types of cells, including mammalian, bacterial and plant cells. It is increasingly used to modulate gene expression and perform various types of gene therapy, drug delivery and DNA vaccination.