Modulating electrolytic tissue ablation with reversible electroporation pulses

Abstract

Electrolytic ablation is a minimally invasive tissue ablation technique that operates by delivering low magnitude direct current to the target region over long periods of time, generating electrolytic products that destroy cells. Our study seeks to examine the hypothesis that permeabilizing the cell membrane with reversible electroporation will reduce the electrolytic dose required for tissue ablation, by exposing the interior of the cell to the electrolytic products. The hypothesis is examined by evaluating the extent of tissue damage when electrolytic and reversible electroporation sequences are delivered separately and in combination, it in vivo, to rat liver tissue. The study shows that combining reversible electroporation with electrolysis produces a substantial increase in the extent of tissue ablation compared to that achieved by electrolysis alone.