Journal of Biomolecular Research & Therapeutics

Enhancing Drug Delivery and Genetic Engineering through Electroporation

Minjun Joon^* Department of Bioengineering, Chungnam National University, Yuseoung-gu, Korea
^*Correspondence: Minjun Joon, Department of Bioengineering, Chungnam National University, Yuseoung-gu, Korea, Email:

Received: 10-May-2023, Manuscript No. BOM-23-21506; Editor assigned: 15-May-2023, Pre QC No. BOM-23-21506(PQ); Reviewed: 29-May-2023, QC No. BOM-23-21506; Revised: 06-Jun-2023, Manuscript No. BOM-23-21506(R); Published: 13-Jun-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2167-7956.23.12.293

Description

Electroporation is a widely used biomolecular technique that has revolutionized the field of molecular biology and biotechnology. It involves the application of brief high-voltage electric pulses to cells or tissues leading to the formation of transient pores in their membranes. These pores allow the entry of various molecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins and drugs into the cells, thereby facilitating genetic manipulation, gene delivery and cellular transformation. Electroporation has found applications in diverse fields, including genetic engineering, gene therapy, drug delivery and cancer research. Electroporation exploits the unique properties of cell membranes and their response to external electric fields. The cell membrane is a lipid bilayer that acts as a barrier controlling the entry and exit of molecules into and out of the cell. When subjected to an electric field the cell membrane undergoes a phenomenon called electrophoresis where charged particles, such as ions move in response to the field. Additionally the electric field induces a phenomenon known as dielectric breakdown leading to the formation of transient pores in the membrane. These pores allow the passage of molecules that would not normally cross the intact membrane, thus enabling efficient delivery of biomolecules into the cells.

Electroporation methods

Electroporation can be performed using different methods depending on the specific requirements of the experiment or application. The two commonly used methods are bulk electroporation and microfluidic electroporation. In bulk electroporation a population of cells is exposed to the electric field in a bulk solution typically in electroporation chambers. This method allows for the efficient delivery of molecules into a large number of cells simultaneously. Microfluidic electroporation on the other hand involves the manipulation of individual cells or small cell populations within microfluidic devices. This method offers precise control and high-throughput capabilities making it suitable for single-cell analysis and applications requiring a limited number of cells. Electroporation has a wide range of applications in biological and biomedical research. One of the most prominent applications is in genetic engineering where it enables the efficient introduction of foreign genetic material into cells. This is particularly useful for the creation of genetically modified organism’s production of recombinant proteins and gene editing using technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9. Electroporation has also facilitated the development of gene therapy a promising approach for treating genetic disorders and certain types of cancer. By delivering therapeutic genes into target cells electroporation allows for the correction of genetic defects or the modulation of cellular functions. In addition to genetic manipulation electroporation has been employed in drug delivery strategies. By temporarily permeabilizing cell membranes it enhances the uptake of therapeutic molecules including small molecules and macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. This has implications in the development of novel therapies for various diseases including cancer, infectious diseases and genetic disorders. Electroporation-mediated drug delivery can improve the efficacy and specificity of treatments reduces dosage requirements, and minimizes off-target effects.

Furthermore, electroporation has been utilized in the field of cancer research. Electroporation-based tumor ablation techniques such as Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) or electro chemotherapy, involve the application of electric pulses to selectively destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. These techniques offer minimally invasive alternatives to traditional cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy and show promise in treating localized tumors. Electroporation-based tumor vaccination approaches have also been explored, where tumor cells are electroporated with antigens or immunostimulatory molecules to trigger an immune response against the cancer cells. Over the years significant advancements have been made in the field of electroporation enhancing its efficiency, precision and safety. One such advancement is the optimization of pulse parameters. The duration, amplitude and number of electric pulses can be finetuned to achieve optimal electroporation efficiency while minimizing cell damage. Additionally, the development of specialized electroporation buffers and media has improved cell viability and transfection efficiency. Another area of advancement is the integration of electroporation with other techniques.