Recent advances in pulsed power technology culminated in engineering of unique devices capable of delivering high-voltage, nanosecond-duration electrical pulses (nsEP) to low-impedance loads such as biological tissues and cell samples. Compared to longer pulses (such as those routinely used for electrostimulation and electroporation), nsEP are distinguished by a steep voltage increase (1012-1014 V/cm per second) and extremely high peak E-field (103-106 V/cm), whereas the total energy deposition into exposed tissue remains low and Joule heating does not exceed a few degrees C. Due to extreme E-field values, nsEP can cause unique bioeffects, such as Ca2+ bursts, lasting inactivation of voltage-gated ion channels, cell swelling and blebbing, """"""""nanoelectroporation"""""""" of membranes, necrotic and apoptotic cell death. Combined with the ease of affecting only a limited volume of tissue, nsEP are a promising new therapeutic modality for tissue ablation and solid tumors destruction. First animal trials demonstrated the efficiency of nsEP treatment of inoculated tumors. However, physical and physiological mechanisms leading to cell death after nsEP exposure have been poorly understood, which hinders progress in medical applications of nsEP. Remarkably different nsEP sensitivity of different cell types has not been explained, and it is not known which nsEP parameters (e.g., E- field, pulse rate, absorbed dose) determine the cytotoxic effect. Our preliminary experiments established unexpected similarities of nsEP effects with known effects of both sparsely ionizing radiations (SIRs) and chemical agents that cause oxidative stress. For both these modalities, the principal mechanism of cell death is damage by free radicals, and we hypothesize that this is also the case for nsEP exposure. The proposed study consists of four Specific Aims intended to quantify nsEP cytotoxic effects in different cells and under different physiological conditions, to test the free radical damage hypothesis, and explore the mechanisms and pathways responsible for nsEP-induced cell death.
Specific Aim 1 : Wide-scale quantitative analysis of cell death dependence on the physical parameters of nsEP treatment, including pulse duration, voltage, dose, the number of pulses, and their repetition rate.
Specific Aim 2 : Explore the role of physiological conditions of the cell culture (cell cycle phase, growth stage, and differentiation) on the sensitivity to nsEP exposure.
Specific Aim 3 : Analyze possible involvement of free radical damage mechanism in cell death caused by nsEP exposure.
Specific Aim 4 : Analyze mechanisms of long-term disruption of plasma membrane ionic conductance by nsEP and its possible role as a primary physiological event that leads to nsEP-induced cell death.

Public Health Relevance

This study will be focused on physico-chemical and physiological mechanisms that underlie and determine mammalian cells sensitivity to nanosecond-duration, high-voltage electric pulses (nsEP). Anticipated results will help to quantify, predict, and purposefully modify nsEP sensitivity, assist understanding of mechanisms of nsEP bioeffects, and promote the development of nsEP medical applications, such as tissue ablation and destruction of tumors. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA125482-01A2
Application #
7525549
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SBIB-U (92))
Program Officer
Stone, Helen B
Project Start
2008-07-01
Project End
2012-05-31
Budget Start
2008-07-01
Budget End
2009-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$279,229
Indirect Cost
Name
Old Dominion University
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
041448465
City
Norfolk
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23508
Rassokhin, Mikhail A; Pakhomov, Andrei G (2014) Cellular regulation of extension and retraction of pseudopod-like blebs produced by nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF). Cell Biochem Biophys 69:555-66
Pakhomova, Olga N; Gregory, Betsy; Semenov, Iurii et al. (2014) Calcium-mediated pore expansion and cell death following nanoelectroporation. Biochim Biophys Acta 1838:2547-54
Pakhomov, Andrei G; Xiao, Shu; Pakhomova, Olga N et al. (2014) Disassembly of actin structures by nanosecond pulsed electric field is a downstream effect of cell swelling. Bioelectrochemistry 100:88-95
Pakhomova, Olga N; Gregory, Betsy W; Pakhomov, Andrei G (2013) Facilitation of electroporative drug uptake and cell killing by electrosensitization. J Cell Mol Med 17:154-9
Semenov, Iurii; Xiao, Shu; Pakhomova, Olga N et al. (2013) Recruitment of the intracellular Ca2+ by ultrashort electric stimuli: the impact of pulse duration. Cell Calcium 54:145-50
Semenov, Iurii; Xiao, Shu; Pakhomov, Andrei G (2013) Primary pathways of intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization by nanosecond pulsed electric field. Biochim Biophys Acta 1828:981-9
Pakhomova, Olga N; Gregory, Betsy W; Semenov, Iurii et al. (2013) Two modes of cell death caused by exposure to nanosecond pulsed electric field. PLoS One 8:e70278
Pakhomov, Andrei G (2013) Response to ""Sodium current inhibition by nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF)--fact or artifact?"" by Verkerk et al. Bioelectromagnetics 34:165-6
Nesin, Vasyl; Bowman, Angela M; Xiao, Shu et al. (2012) Cell permeabilization and inhibition of voltage-gated Ca(2+) and Na(+) channel currents by nanosecond pulsed electric field. Bioelectromagnetics 33:394-404
Rassokhin, Mikhail A; Pakhomov, Andrei G (2012) Electric field exposure triggers and guides formation of pseudopod-like blebs in U937 monocytes. J Membr Biol 245:521-9

Showing the most recent 10 out of 21 publications