In Vitro Delivery of Drugs and Other Molecules to Cells

The permeability of a cell membrane can be transiently increased locally when an external electric field pulse with an overcritical intensity is applied. A position dependent modulation of the membrane potential difference is induced during the pulse. A local membrane alteration is created, which may reseal. Its molecular definition remains unknown. This phenomenon is now commonly known as electroporation or electropermeabilization . The former term implies that physical pores are created in the lipid matrix. However their existence has never been clearly demonstrated. The term electroporation is therefore rather misleading.