Flow Cytometry Quantification of Electropermeabilization

Cell plasma membranes act as highly impermeable barriers for the exchange of molecules between cells and external medium. Transfer of compounds can only take place via the existence of specific transport systems that allow a limited number of molecules to cross membranes. Alteration in membrane selective permeability can nevertheless be achieved by several drastic methods such as microinjection, particle bombardment, polyethylene glycol, and viruses. In the early 1970s, a physical method was described. This method was termed “electropermeabilization” (“electroporation”) (1 ). It is used to gain access to the cytosol (2 ). It is now routinely used to transfect cells with DNA, and is applicable to different systems including mammalian cells, plant protoplasts, intact bacteria, and yeast cells (3 ). More recently, clinical applications have been reported (4 ).