Bioelectrical and Neuroengineering Commons^™

Atmospheric Air Plasma Streamers Deliver Nanosecond Pulses For Focused Electroporation, Shu Xiao, Carol Zhou, Eric Appia, Shirshak Dhali

Bioelectrics Publications

Background: For electrotherapies that involve electrodes and high-intensity electric fields, such as in tissue ablation, we report a method of pulse delivery that can focus the electric field away from the electrodes, as demonstrated in vitro.

Materials and Methods: To electroporate cells in a monolayer seeded in a 35 mm culture dish, two atmospheric-pressure plasma channels generated by two thin, copper foil electrodes above the surface of the solution provided the current and established the electric field.

Results: Depending on the pulse duration, the plasma channels were observed as corona (100 ns), streamer (300 ns), and mixture of streamer …

In Vivo Metabolic Analysis Of The Anticancer Effects Of Plasma-Activated Saline In Three Tumor Animal Models, Miao Qi, Dehui Xu, Shuai Wang, Bing Li, Sansan Peng, Qiaosong Li, Hao Zhang, Runze Fan, Hai-Lan Chen, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

In recent years, the emerging technology of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) has grown rapidly along with the many medical applications of cold plasma (e.g., cancer, skin disease, tissue repair, etc.). Plasma-activated liquids (e.g., culture media, water, or normal saline, previously exposed to plasma) are being studied as cancer treatments, and due to their advantages, many researchers prefer plasma-activated liquids as an alternative to CAP in the treatment of cancer. In this study, we showed that plasma-activated-saline (PAS) treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth, as compared with saline, in melanoma, and a low-pH environment had little effect on tumor growth in …

Alcohol Increases Lung Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Expression And Exacerbates Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Spike Protein Subunit 1–Induced Acute Lung Injury In K18-Hace2 Transgenic Mice, Pavel A. Solopov, Ruben Manuel Luciano Colunga Biancatelli, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, alcohol consumption increased markedly. Nearly one in four adults reported drinking more alcohol to cope with stress. Chronic alcohol abuse is now recognized as a factor complicating the course of acute respiratory distress syndrome. and increasing mortality. To investigate the mechanisms behind this interaction, we developed a combined acute respiratory distress syndrome and chronic alcohol abuse mouse model by intratracheally instilling the S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S1SP) in K18-human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) transgenic mice that express the human ACE2 receptor for SARS-CoV-2 and are kept on an …

The Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitor, At13387, Protects The Alveolo-Capillary Barrier And Prevents Hci-Induced Chronic Lung Injury And Pulmonary Fibrosis, Ruben M.L. Colunga Biancatelli, Pavel Solopov, Christiana Dimitropoulou, Betsy Gregory, Tierney Day, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) exposure causes asthma-like conditions, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, and pulmonary fibrosis. Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) is a molecular chaperone that regulates multiple cellular processes. HSP90 inhibitors are undergoing clinical trials for cancer and are also being studied in various pre-clinical settings for their anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. Here we investigated the ability of the heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor AT13387 to prevent chronic lung injury induced by exposure to HCl in vivo and its protective role in the endothelial barrier in vitro. We instilled C57Bl/6J mice with 0.1N HCl (2 µL/g body weight, intratracheally) and …

The Paradox Of Pulmonary Vascular Resistance: Restoration Of Pulmonary Capillary Recruitment As A Sine Qua Non For True Therapeutic Success In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, David Langleben, Stylianos E. Orfanos, Benjamin D. Fox, Nathan Messas, Michele Giovinazzo, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Exercise-induced increases in pulmonary blood flow normally increase pulmonary arterial pressure only minimally, largely due to a reserve of pulmonary capillaries that are available for recruitment to carry the flow. In pulmonary arterial hypertension, due to precapillary arteriolar obstruction, such recruitment is greatly reduced. In exercising pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, pulmonary arterial pressure remains high and may even increase further. Current pulmonary arterial hypertension therapies, acting principally as vasodilators, decrease calculated pulmonary vascular resistance by increasing pulmonary blood flow but have a minimal effect in lowering pulmonary arterial pressure and do not restore significant capillary recruitment. Novel pulmonary arterial hypertension …

In Vitro And In Vivo Correlation Of Skin And Cellular Responses To Nucleic Acid Delivery, M. Bosnjak, K. Znidar, A. Sales Conniff, T. Jesenko, B. Markelc, Nina Semenova, J. Tur, K. Kohena, S. Kranjc Brezar, L. Heller, M. Cemazar

Bioelectrics Publications

Skin, the largest organ in the body, provides a passive physical barrier against infection and contains elements of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Skin consists of various cells, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and immune cells. This diversity of cell types could be important to gene therapies because DNA transfection could elicit different responses in different cell types. Previously, we observed the upregulation and activation of cytosolic DNA sensing pathways in several non-tumor and tumor cell types as well in tumors after the electroporation (electrotransfer) of plasmid DNA (pDNA). Based on this research and the innate immunogenicity of …

Electroporation And Cell Killing By Milli- To Nanosecond Pulses And Avoiding Neuromuscular Stimulation In Cancer Ablation, Emily Gudvangen, Vitalii Kim, Vitalij Novickij, Federico Battista, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Ablation therapies aim at eradication of tumors with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissues. Conventional pulsed electric field (PEF) treatments cause pain and muscle contractions far beyond the ablation area. The ongoing quest is to identify PEF parameters efficient at ablation but not at stimulation. We measured electroporation and cell killing thresholds for 150 ns–1 ms PEF, uni- and bipolar, delivered in 10- to 300-pulse trains at up to 1 MHz rates. Monolayers of murine colon carcinoma cells exposed to PEF were stained with YO-PRO-1 dye to detect electroporation. In 2–4 h, dead cells were labeled with propidium. Electroporation and …

The Impact Of Nanopulse Treatment On The Tumor Microenvironment In Breast Cancer: Overturning The Treg Immunosuppressive Dominance, Anthony Nanajian

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Nanopulse treatment (NPT) is a high-power electric engineering modality that has been shown to be an effective local tumor treatment approach in multiple cancer models. Our previous studies on the orthotopic 4T1-luc breast cancer model demonstrated that NPT ablated local tumors. The treatment consequently conferred protection against a second live tumor challenge and minimized spontaneous metastasis. This study aims to understand how NPT mounts a potent immune response in a predominantly immunosuppressive tumor.

NPT changed the local and systemic dynamics of immunosuppressive cells by significantly reducing the numbers of regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and tumor-associated macrophages …

Picosecond Pulsed Electric Fields And Promise In Neurodegeneration Research, Martina Zamponi, Ross Petrella, Peter A. Mollica

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

The delivery of pulsed electric fields to biological cells for regenerative research and therapeutic applications is a field that has been widely explored. Picosecond pulsed electric fields have been shown to induce intracellular effects and directly target cell membrane proteins as well as being able to induce cell permeabilization and death by apoptosis. Additionally, ultrashort pulses can be focused and delivered in a noncontact manner for possible targeting of deep and inaccessible tissues. The unique characteristics of picosecond pulses make them a possible approach for treatment of Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases, both characterized by progressive neuronal degeneration and death, and …

2-Ns Electrostimulation Of Ca2+ Influx Into Chromaffin Cells: Rapid Modulation By Field Reversal, Josette Zaklit, Gale L. Craviso, Normand Leblanc, P. Thomas Vernier, Esin B. Sözer

Bioelectrics Publications

Cellular effects of nanosecond pulsed electric field exposures can be attenuated by an electric field reversal, a phenomenon called bipolar pulse cancellation. Our investigations of this phenomenon in neuroendocrine adrenal chromaffin cells show that a single 2 ns, 16 MV/m unipolar pulse elicited a rapid, transient rise in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels due to Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-gated calcium channels. The response was eliminated by a 2 ns bipolar pulse with positive and negative phases of equal duration and amplitude, and fully restored (unipolar-equivalent response) when the delay between each phase of the bipolar pulse was 30 ns. Longer …

Fluid Model Of Plasma-Liquid Interaction: The Effect Of Interfacial Boundary Conditions And Henry's Law Constants, Yifan Liu, Dingxin Liu, Jishen Zhang, Bowen Sun, Santu Luo, Hao Zhang, Li Guo, Mingzhe Rong, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Plasma–liquid interaction is a critical area of plasma science, mainly because much remains unknown about the physicochemical processes occurring at the plasma–liquid interface. Besides a lot of experimental studies toward the interaction, a few fluid models have also been reported in recent years. However, the interfacial boundary conditions in the models are different and the Henry's law constants therein are uncertain; hence, the accuracy and robustness of the simulation results are doubtable. In view of this, three 1D fluid models are developed for the interaction between a plasma jet and deionized water, each of which has a unique interfacial boundary …

Cold Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Caused Protein Damage In Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Cells In Biofilms, Li Guo, Lu Yang, Yu Qi, Gulimire Niyazi, Lingling Huang, Lu Gou, Zifeng Wang, Lei Zhang, Dingxin Liu, Xiaohua Wang, Hailan Chen, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Biofilms formed by multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. Cold atmospheric-pressure plasma (CAP) is attractive for sterilization, especially to disrupt biofilms formed by multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is not clear. In this study, CAP effectively reduced the living cells in the biofilms formed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and 6 min treatment with CAP reduced the S. aureus cells in biofilms by 3.5 log₁₀. The treatment with CAP caused the polymerization of SaFtsZ and SaClpP proteins in the S. aureus cells of the biofilms. In vitro analysis demonstrated that recombinant SaFtsZ lost …

Moderate Heat-Assisted Gene Electrotransfer As A Potential Delivery Approach For Protein Replacement Therapy Through The Skin, Chelsea Edelblute, Cathryn Mangiamele, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Gene-based approaches for protein replacement therapies have the potential to reduce the number of administrations. Our previous work demonstrated that expression could be enhanced and/or the applied voltage reduced by preheating the tissue prior to pulse administration. In the current study, we utilized our 16-pin multi-electrode array (MEA) and incorporated nine optical fibers, connected to an infrared laser, between each set of four electrodes to heat the tissue to 43 °C. For proof of principle, a guinea pig model was used to test delivery of reporter genes. We observed that when the skin was preheated, it was possible to achieve …

Moderate Heat-Assisted Gene Electrotransfer For Cutaneous Delivery Of A Dna Vaccine Against Hepatitis B Virus, Chelsea Edelblute, Cathryn Mangiamele, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

An estimated 350 million people are living with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) worldwide. Preventative HBV vaccination in infants has reduced the disease burden; however, insufficient immunization programs and access obstacles leave vulnerable populations at risk for infection in endemic regions. Gene electrotransfer (GET) using a noninvasive multielectrode array (MEA) provides an alternative platform for DNA vaccination in the skin. DNA vaccines are nonlive and nonreplicating and temperature stable unlike their counterparts. In addition, their simple engineering allows them to be manufactured quickly at a low cost. In the current work, we present the combination of GET and moderate heating …

Stobe Photography Mapping Of Cell Membrane Potential With Nanosecond Resolution, Allen S. Kiester, Bennett L. Ibey, Zachary N. Coker, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Joel N. Bixler

Bioelectrics Publications

The ability to directly observe membrane potential charging dynamics across a full microscopic field of view is vital for understanding interactions between a biological system and a given electrical stimulus. Accurate empirical knowledge of cell membrane electrodynamics will enable validation of fundamental hypotheses posited by the single shell model, which includes the degree of voltage change across a membrane and cellular sensitivity to external electric field non-uniformity and directionality. To this end, we have developed a high-speed strobe microscopy system with a time resolution of ~ 6 ns that allows us to acquire time-sequential data for temporally repeatable events (non-injurious …

Electroporation Safety Factor Of 300 Nanosecond And 10 Millisecond Defibrillation In Langendorff-Perfused Rabbit Hearts, Johanna U. Neuber, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Christian W. Zemlin

Bioelectrics Publications

Aims

Recently, a new defibrillation modality using nanosecond pulses was shown to be effective at much lower energies than conventional 10 millisecond monophasic shocks in ex vivo experiments. Here we compare the safety factors of 300 nanosecond and 10 millisecond shocks to assess the safety of nanosecond defibrillation.

Methods and results

The safety factor, i.e. the ratio of median effective doses (ED50) for electroporative damage and defibrillation, was assessed for nanosecond and conventional (millisecond) defibrillation shocks in Langendorff-perfused New Zealand white rabbit hearts. In order to allow for multiple shock applications in a single heart, a pair of needle electrodes …

Connexin Hemichannel Activation By S-Nitrosoglutathione Synergizes Strongly With Photodynamic Therapy Potentiating Anti-Tumor Bystander Killing, Chiara Nardin, Chiara Peres, Sabrina Putti, Tiziana Orsini, Claudia Colussi, Flavia Mazzarda, Marcello Raspa, Ferdinando Scavizzi, Anna Maria Salvatore, Francesco Chiani, Abraham Tettey-Matey, Yuanyuan Kuang, Guang Yang, Mauricio A. Retamal, Fabio Mammano

Bioelectrics Publications

In this study, we used B16-F10 cells grown in the dorsal skinfold chamber (DSC) preparation that allowed us to gain optical access to the processes triggered by photodynamic therapy (PDT). Partial irradiation of a photosensitized melanoma triggered cell death in non-irradiated tumor cells. Multiphoton intravital microscopy with genetically encoded fluorescence indicators revealed that bystander cell death was mediated by paracrine signaling due to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from connexin (Cx) hemichannels (HCs). Intercellular calcium (Ca²⁺) waves propagated from irradiated to bystander cells promoting intracellular Ca²⁺ transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to mitochondria and rapid activation of …

Four Channel 6.5 Kv, 65 A, 100 Ns-100 Μs Generator With Advanced Control Of Pulse And Burst Protocols For Biomedical And Biotechnological Applications, Aleh Kandratsyeu, Uladzimir Sabaleuski, Luis Redondo, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Pulsed electric fields in the sub-microsecond range are being increasingly used in biomedical and biotechnology applications, where the demand for high-voltage and high-frequency pulse generators with enhanced performance and pulse flexibility is pushing the limits of pulse power solid state technology. In the scope of this article, a new pulsed generator, which includes four independent MOSFET based Marx modulators, operating individually or combined, controlled from a computer user interface, is described. The generator is capable of applying different pulse shapes, from unipolar to bipolar pulses into biological loads, in symmetric and asymmetric modes, with voltages up to 6.5 kV and …

The Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species In The Immunity Induced By Nano-Pulse Stimulation, Siqi Guo, Niculina I. Burcus, Megan Scott, Yu Jing, Iurii Semenov

Bioelectrics Publications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are byproducts of tumor cells treated with Nano-Pulse Stimulation (NPS). Recently, ROS have been suggested as a contributing factor in immunogenic cell death and T cell-mediated immunity. This research further investigated the role of NPS induced ROS in antitumor immunity. ROS production in 4T1-luc breast cancer cells was characterized using three detection reagents, namely, Amplex Red, MitoSox Red, and Dihydroethidium. The efficiency of ROS quenching was evaluated in the presence or absence of ROS scavengers and/or antioxidants. The immunogenicity of NPS treated tumor cells was assessed by ex vivo dendritic cell activation, in vivo vaccination assay …

Photodynamic Therapy Of Inorganic Complexes For The Treatment Of Cancer, Chloe B. Smith, Lindsay C. Days, Duaa R. Alajroush, Khadija Faye, Yara Khodour, Stephen J. Beebe, Alvin Holder

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medicinal tool that uses a photosensitiser and a light source to treat several conditions, including cancer. PDT uses reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as cytotoxic singlet oxygen ¹O₂ to induce cell death in cancer cells. Chemotherapy has historically utilized the cytotoxic effects of many metals, especially transition-metal complexes. However, chemotherapy is a systemic treatment so all cells in a patient's body are exposed to the same cytotoxic effects. Transition metal complexes have also shown high cytotoxicity as PDT agents. PDT is a potential localized method for treating several cancer types by using inorganic …

Sex-Related Differences In Murine Models Of Chemically Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pavel Solopov, Ruben Manuel Luciano Colunga Biancatelli, Christiana Dimitropoulou, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

We developed two models of chemically induced chronic lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis in mice (intratracheally administered hydrochloric acid (HCl) and intratracheally administered nitrogen mustard (NM)) and investigated male-female differences. Female mice exhibited higher 30-day survival and less weight loss than male mice. Thirty days after the instillation of either HCl or NM, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid displayed a persistent, mild inflammatory response, but with higher white blood cell numbers and total protein content in males vs. females. Furthermore, females exhibited less collagen deposition, milder pulmonary fibrosis, and lower Ashcroft scores. After instillation of either HCl or NM, all animals displayed …

Age-Dependent Chronic Lung Injury And Pulmonary Fibrosis Following Single Exposure To Hydrochloric Acid, Ruben M.L. Colunga Biancatelli, Pavel Solopov, Christiana Dimitropoulou, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Exposure to hydrochloric acid (HCl) represents a threat to public health. Children may inhale higher doses and develop greater injury because of their smaller airways and faster respiratory rate. We have developed a mouse model of pediatric exposure to HCl by intratracheally instilling p24 mice (mice 24 days old; 8–10 g) with 2 µL/g 0.1 N HCl, and compared the profile of lung injury to that in HCl-instilled adults (10 weeks old; 25–30 g) and their age-matched saline controls. After 30 days, alveolar inflammation was observed with increased proteinosis and mononuclear cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in both …

Validation Of Nanosecond Pulse Cancellation Using A Quadrupole Exposure System, Hollie A. Ryan

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) offer a plethora of opportunities for developing integrative technologies as complements or alternatives to traditional medicine. Studies on the biological effects of nsPEFs in vitro and in vivo have revealed unique characteristics that suggest the potential for minimized risk of complications in patients, such as the ability of unipolar nsEPs to create permanent or transient pores in cell membranes that trigger localized lethal or non-lethal outcomes without consequential heating. A more recent finding was that such responses could be diminished by applying a bipolar pulse instead, a phenomenon dubbed bipolar cancellation, paving the way …

Secretion Of Proteins And Antibody Fragments From Transiently Transfected Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Loree Heller, Reynald Thinard, Melanie Chevalier, Sezgi Arpag, Yu Jing, Ruth Greferath, Richard Heller, Claude Nicolau

Bioelectrics Publications

In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neuroinflammation can lead to blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. After intravenous or intra-arterial injection into mice, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) home to the damaged BBB to promote neurovascular repair. Autologous EPCs transfected to express specific therapeutic proteins offer an innovative therapeutic option. Here, we demonstrate that EPC transfection by electroporation with plasmids encoding the reporter protein GFP or an anti-beta-amyloid antibody fragment (Fab) leads to secretion of each protein. We also demonstrate the secreted anti-beta-amyloid Fab protein functions in beta-amyloid aggregate solubilization.

Probing Nanoelectroporation And Resealing Of The Cell Membrane By The Entry Of Ca2+ And Ba2+ Ions, Wenfei Bo, Mantas Silkunas, Uma Mangalanathan, Vitalij Novickij, Maura Casciola, Iurii Semenov, Shu Xiao, Olga N. Pakhomova, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

The principal bioeffect of the nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) is a lasting cell membrane permeabilization, which is often attributed to the formation of nanometer-sized pores. Such pores may be too small for detection by the uptake of fluorescent dyes. We tested if Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ba²⁺ ions can be used as nanoporation markers. Time-lapse imaging was performed in CHO, BPAE, and HEK cells loaded with Fluo-4, Calbryte, or Fluo-8 dyes. Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺ did not change fluorescence in intact cells, whereas their entry after nsPEF increased fluorescence within <1 ms. The threshold for one 300-ns pulse was at 1.5–2 kV/cm, much lower than >7 …

Thermal Analysis Of Infrared Irradiation-Assisted Nanosecond-Pulsed Tumor Ablation, James Hornef, Chelsea M. Edelblute, Karl H. Schoenbach, Richard Heller, Siqi Guo, Chunqi Jiang

Bioelectrics Publications

Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields (nsPEF) have the potential to treat a variety of cancer types including melanoma, pancreatic and lung squamous cancers. Recent studies show that nsPEF-based cancer therapy may be improved further with the assistance of moderate heating of the target. A feedbacklooped heating system, utilizing a 980-nm fiber optic laser, was integrated into nsPEF electrodes for tumor ablation. The laser beam profile was determined to be Gaussian using a knife-edge technique. Thermal properties of the biological target were evaluated based on the treatment area, penetration depth and thermal distribution due to laser irradiation with or without nsPEF. Synergistic …

Electrotransfer Of Il-15/Il-15rα Complex For The Treatment Of Established Melanoma, Shawna A. Shirley, Cathryn G. Lundberg, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Gene electrotransfer (GET) is a safe, reliable, and effective method of delivering plasmid DNA (pDNA) to solid tumors. GET has been previously used to deliver interleukin-15 (IL-15) to mouse melanoma, resulting in long-term tumor regression and the survival of a percentage of treated animals after challenge. To enhance this effect, we evaluated modulating the expression levels of IL-15 and co-expressing its receptor, IL-15Rα. GET was used to deliver plasmids encoding IL-15 and IL-15Rα to established B16.F10 tumors on days 0, 4, and 7. Two delivery protocols that yielded different expression profiles were utilized. Mice that were tumor-free for 50 days …

Electropermeabilization Does Not Correlate With Plasma Membrane Lipid Oxidation, Olga Michel, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Maura Casciola, Jolanta Saczko, Julita Kulbacka, Olga N. Pakhomova

Bioelectrics Publications

The permeabilized condition of the cell membrane after electroporation can last minutes but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Previous studies suggest that lipid peroxidation could be responsible for the lasting leaky state of the membrane. The present study aims to link oxidation within the plasma membrane of live cells to permeabilization by electric pulses. We have introduced a method for the detection of oxidation by ratiometric fluorescence measurements of BODIPY-C11 dye using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, limiting the signal to the cell membrane. CHO-K1 cells were cultured on glass coverslips coated with an electroconductive indium tin oxide (ITO) …

Estimating Cognitive Workload In An Interactive Virtual Reality Environment Using Eeg, Christoph Tremmel, Christain Herff, Tetsuya Sato, Krzysztof Rechowicz, Yusuke Yamani, Dean J. Krusienski

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

With the recent surge of affordable, high-performance virtual reality (VR) headsets, there is unlimited potential for applications ranging from education, to training, to entertainment, to fitness and beyond. As these interfaces continue to evolve, passive user-state monitoring can play a key role in expanding the immersive VR experience, and tracking activity for user well-being. By recording physiological signals such as the electroencephalogram (EEG) during use of a VR device, the user's interactions in the virtual environment could be adapted in real-time based on the user's cognitive state. Current VR headsets provide a logical, convenient, and unobtrusive framework for mounting EEG …

Initiation Of Action Potential In Murine Ventricular Myocytes By Bursts Of Nanosecond Pulses, Iurii Semenov

Bioelectrics Publications

[First slide] Current situation

I. Among 300,000 persons die from sudden cardiac arrest every year over 40% are victims of fibrillation

II. Defibrillation by an electric shock is the effective therapy against sudden cardiac death

III. Current approach to stop fibrillation may involve disruption of plasma membrane (PM) by an electroporation

IV. Electroporation is damaging, it can: I. Induce post shock arrhythmias II. Complicate patient's recovery III. Lead to death after initially successful resuscitation