Electroporation has been the main research area of Laboratory of Biocybernetics since the 1990s. Over the years the field has matured in terms of our understanding of physical and biological phenomena involved in its complex and multifaceted effects on living cells, tissues and the organism. In the beginning, our research and development was primarily focused on applications of electroporation for treatment of solid tumors. We were one of the pioneers in the development of electrochemotherapy of tumors 1, in which reversible electroporation is used to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs. Another use of reversible electroporation is gene electrotransfer (GET), in which electroporation is used to introduce genetic material into cells to be exploited for gene and cell therapy 2. On the other hand, irreversible electroporation is used for ablation of abnormally functioning tissue. Over the last decade our attention has gradually shifted to application of electroporation in cardiology, most notably for treatment of atrial fibrillation, in which pulsed field ablation is already overshadowing the conventional thermal ablation methods 3.

Electrochemotherapy

In electrochemotherapy (ECT), reversible electroporation is used to increase the uptake of cytotoxic drugs into target tumor cells, greatly potentiating the effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic drug while reducing systemic side effects. In close collaboration with the Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana and other institutions, we helped bring this effective treatment to clinical use. ECT is now a well-established methodology used in many centers, especially in Europe, to treat various types of tumors in the skin and internal organs.

Pulsed field ablation

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) applies irreversible electroporation to selectively destroy abnormal cardiac tissue causing arrhythmias. A major shift in treatment of atrial fibrillation has been ongoing worldwide thanks to advantages of this non-thermal ablation modality over conventional thermal catheter ablation methods. The more complex ventricular arrhythmias are the next target of PFA treatment, and preclinical and clinical trials are already underway.

Gene electrotransfer

Gene electrotransfer (GET) uses reversible electroporation to deliver therapeutic nucleic acids into cells as a nonviral alternative to conventional viral vectors. Active research areas include GET of the skin and skeletal muscle for DNA vaccine development, as well as GET for gene therapy of cardiac muscle, where the ultimate goal is to develop clinically viable protocols for stimulating the heart’s regenerative capacity following ischemic injury.