Cell electropermeabilization: a new tool for biochemical and pharmacological studies.

Cell electropermeabilization is the transient permeabilization of the plasma membrane by means of short and intense electric pulses. Under optimized conditions, electropermeabilization is compatible with cell survival. It provides a direct access into the cytosol to ions, small molecules, exogenous drugs and macromolecules. As cells remain functional, a large variety of cell biology questions can be addressed. Such 'in situ biochemistry' opens new possibilities beside the more classical studies dealing with unpermeabilized cells or subcellular extracts. Electropermeabilization also allows pharmacological studies with cells, cultured monolayers and in vivo tissues as well as the design of drug controlled-release systems.