Conductive nanoparticles improve cell electropermeabilization
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers
Published on: October 28, 2015
Amina Ghorbel1, Lluis M Mir1, Tomás García-Sánchez1
1Vectorology and Anticancer Therapies, UMR 8203, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Gustave Roussy, Université, Paris-Saclay, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
Abstract:
Conducive nanoparticles (NPs) were proposed to locally amplify the external electric field (EF) intensity at the cell surface to improve cell electroporation. To better understand the physical mechanisms behind this improvement, different types of NPs and several incubation conditions were applied to adherent cells in the present study. The enhancement of electroporation was observed in the presence of conductive NPs but not when non-conductive NPs were used. Experimental data demonstrate the influence of the incubation conditions between cells and NPs, which impact on the number and quality (aggregated or isolated) of the NPs surrounding the cells. While NPs can increase the number of electroporated cells, they have a more pronounced impact on the level permeabilization of each individual cell. Our results reveal the potential of conductive NPs to enhance the efficiency of electroporation via the amplification of the local EF at the cell surface as shown by numerical simulations.
Related Concept Videos
Conduct Disorder
Conduction System of the Heart
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
Conduction System of the Heart
This system relies on the unique properties of nodal and Purkinje cells:...
Resistance and Conductance
Various factors impact the resistance of a conductor. Spiraling in stranded conductors increases their...
Electrical Conductivity
In a practical conductor, an applied electric field may be sustained, causing a flow of electrons, which produce a current. The differential form of the current, the current density, is related to the electric field.
More generally, it is related to the force per unit charge, which involves the...
Theory of Metallic Conduction
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...

