Gene transfer and drug delivery with electric pulse generators.

Electroporation is a process that involves a series of intense electric pulses used to overcome the barrier of the cell membrane. The application of an external electric field may result in reversible breakdown of cell membrane. This transient state helps to introduce cells with a variety of different molecules, such as DNA and drug molecules, and is known as the fundamental mechanisms of gene transfer and drug delivery with electric pulses. This paper reviews (1) the utility of electric pulse generators in gene transfer and drug delivery, (2) development of electric pulse generators for utilizing them in gene transfer and drug delivery, (3) study of parameters of electric pulses used in gene transfer and drug delivery, (4) study of electrode configurations used in gene transfer and drug delivery.