Electroporation Technique May Prevent Restenosis

In a recent study, investigators described the use of a novel tissue ablation method that kills cells by inducing selective damage only to the cell membrane while sparing all other tissue components. This method shows promise for the prevention of restenosis, the reblockage of an artery that had been opened by angioplasty.

The technique, called NTIRE (nonthermal irreversible electroporation), destroys cells within seconds, using very short electric field pulses. The treatment causes no damage to extracellular tissues or structures.

Investigators from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) used a group of 33 Sprague-Dawley rats to optimize the NTIRE protocol. Each animal had NTIRE applied to its left common carotid artery using custom-made electrodes that supplied electric pulses of 100 microseconds. The right carotid artery was used as control.

Results published in the March 9, 2009, online edition of the journal PLoS ONE revealed that the most efficient protocols were 10 pulses of 3500 V/cm at a frequency of 10 Hz and 90 pulses of 1750 V/cm at a frequency of 1 Hz, with ablation efficiency of 89 ± 16% and 94 ± 9%, respectively. Extra-cellular structures were not damaged and the endothelial layer recovered completely.

Based on their promising results the authors concluded that, "NTIRE is a promising, efficient and simple novel technology for vascular smooth muscle cell [VMSC] ablation. It enables ablation within seconds without causing damage to extracellular structures, thus preserving the arterial scaffold and enabling endothelial regeneration. This study provides scientific information for future anti-restenosis experiments utilizing NTIRE.”

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Hebrew University of Jerusalem