In the Laboratory of Biocybernetics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, we investigate the electroporation of biological cells and its use in biomedicine and biotechnology. Recent studies have shown that high-frequency bipolar pulses have a lower excitation effect and greater pulse cancellation effect than low-frequency monopolar pulses. High-frequency pulses, however, reduce the sensitivity of the cells to electroporation for the next pulses in the pulse train. Moreover, the electric field of high-frequency bipolar pulses is distributed in the tissues more homogeneously.
In order to systematically analyse these effects we designed a device for generating pulses - high-frequency bipolar electroporator. The device allows adjusting seven parameters of the electrical pulses via the user interface on the tablet computer. Tablet computer and controller are transferring data through wireless network. The control system is implemented in processors and FPGA circuit in the controller. For pulse generation, the high-voltage power supply and the H-bridge digital amplifier with MOSFETs are used. The minimum length of generated pulses is 400 ns and amplitude can be set between 60 V and 1 kV.
After completing the development of the device we tested it with a load test and did amplitude and time calibration. Then we measured current and voltage signals of the pulses for the open terminals, the low-conductivity medium and the high-conductivity medium. Results were analysed afterwards.
We tested electroporator to the extent that now researchers independently use it in cell laboratories. The device is currently unique in performance, as in the literature and at manufacturers we did not find data on the device, which would allow the generation of such short bipolar pulses with such high repetition frequency. It also allows setting an above-average number of pulse parameters in a very wide range. About the experiments with the device, we have already published the first contribution to the international bioelectrochemical conference.
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