Electric Field Distribution and Electroporation in Discontinuous Regions Using Vegetal Model: In Vitro and In Silico Study

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a recognized electroporation-based technique for treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors. The treatment is based on cell membrane permeability increase, or electroporation phenomenon, which facilitates the entrance of anti-cancer drugs on cells. Electroporation occurs as function of local electrical field amplitude. Inappropriate electric field distribution can produce tumor recurrence and ECT will fail. This explains the importance of pre-treatment analysis of electrical field distribution and determination of electrical field coverage for electroporation occurrence. The irregularities (e.g., holes and protuberances) may reduce ECT effectiveness as provoke unsuitable electric field. The potato tuber is recognized as an in vitro model of electroporation and provides direct visualization of the affected region. In this study, the impact of protuberance was evaluated using in vitro vegetal model and in silico model. Both analysis demonstrate occurrence of insufficient field for ECT in the protuberance neighborhood.