Using non-thermal irreversible electroporation to create an in vivo niche for exogenous cell engraftment

The critical shortage of donor organs has spurred investigation of alternative approaches to either generate replacement organs or implant exogenous cells for treatment of end-stage organ failure. Non-thermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE), which uses brief high electric field pulses to induce irreversible permeabilization of cell membranes, has emerged as a technique for tumor ablation. Here, we introduce a new application for NTIRE that employs in situ cell ablation to create a niche within a solid organ for engraftment of exogenous cells in vivo. We treated the livers of mice with NTIRE and subsequently implanted exogenous congenic hepatocytes within the zone of cell ablation. Donor hepatocytes engrafted and integrated with host liver parenchyma pre-treated with NTIRE. This new approach should have value for studying the effects of a native matrix scaffold on in vivo cell growth and may pioneer a new type of minimally-invasive regenerative surgery.