Membrane electroporation theories: a review
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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Porous Substrate-Based Electroporation with Transepithelial Electrical Impedance Monitoring
Published on: September 27, 2024
C Chen1, S W Smye, M P Robinson
1Department of Electronics, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD York, UK.
Abstract:
Electroporation, the transient increase in the permeability of cell membranes when exposed to a high electric field, is an established in vitro technique and is used to introduce DNA or other molecules into cells. When the trans-membrane voltage induced by an external electric field exceeds a certain threshold (normally 0.2-1 V), a rearrangement of the molecular structure of the membrane occurs, leading to pore formation in the membrane and a considerable increase in the cell membrane permeability to ions, molecules and even macromolecules. This phenomenon is, potentially, the basis for many in vivo applications such as electrochemotherapy and gene therapy, but still lacks a comprehensive theoretical basis. This article reviews the state of current electroporation theories and briefly considers current and potential applications in biology and medicine.
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