Digital Commons Network^™

Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field Thresholds For Nanopore Formation In Neural Cells., Caleb C Roth, Gleb P Tolstykh, Jason A Payne, Marjorie A Kuipers, Gary L. Thompson Iii, Mauris N Desilva, Bennett L Ibey

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

The persistent influx of ions through nanopores created upon cellular exposure to nanosecond pulse electric fields (nsPEF) could be used to modulate neuronal function. One ion, calcium (Ca(2+)), is important to action potential firing and regulates many ion channels. However, uncontrolled hyper-excitability of neurons leads to Ca(2+) overload and neurodegeneration. Thus, to prevent unintended consequences of nsPEF-induced neural stimulation, knowledge of optimum exposure parameters is required. We determined the relationship between nsPEF exposure parameters (pulse width and amplitude) and nanopore formation in two cell types: rodent neuroblastoma (NG108) and mouse primary hippocampal neurons (PHN). We identified thresholds for nanoporation using …