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Bioelectrics
Bioelectrics refers to the use of pulsed power, or the application of powerful electrical pulses, for extremely short periods of time, to manipulate biological cells, tissues and/or organisms.Researchers at the Center for Bioelectrics are testing the use of these high-intensity electrical surges to remove diseased or unwanted cells or groups of cells, such as tumors. Use of this technology in medicine and biology is the first of its kind in the world. The biomedical applications, based on ultrafast pulse-cell interactions, have extraordinary potential to treat persons with cancer, cardiovascular disease and other conditions. A promising branch of bioelectrics within environmental sciences involves the use of electric pulses that may be used to generate nonthermal ionized gases (cold plasmas) as a means for bacterial, viral and chemical decontamination. This technology provides a new, environmentally benign, non-chemical means of decontamination of gases, liquids and solids, such as food.
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Research Overview |
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High-intensity pulsed electric fields with ultrashort duration have been proven to target intracellular structures and functions without permanent damage to the cell membrane. Applications include the possibility to kill cancer cells and tissues, as well as other unwanted or aberrant cells, such as warts, moles or fat cells, and also to sculpt tissues during plastic or reconstructive surgery. Using different parameters, cell functions appear to be enhanced. This could allow for applications for wound healing and regeneration of damaged cells and tissues.
Also under development is a dual pulsing system combining long pulses, which open pores in the outer cell membrane, and short pulses, that affect intracellular structures and molecular transport, to enhance gene delivery to the nucleus. The application of this new technology will be of great value in basic molecular biology, by promoting an understanding of mechanisms that regulate gene expression, and in clinical medicine. |
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Bioelectrics (Engineering) Research and Development
The Center will provide laboratory facilities, equipment, meeting space and administrative and technical support to allow the participating scientists and engineers to perform high quality research on bioelectric devices and diagnostic techniques. These devices and techniques will serve the resident research teams in their efforts and may be made available to outside users, such as biotech companies, to allow them to carry out research in the collaborative laboratories available on site. |
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Pulsed Power |
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Pulsed power physics and technology is the enabling technology for bioelectrics. It refers to the compression of electrical energy to times of less than one nanosecond. This energy compression corresponds to an amplification of power, reaching short-term power levels of terawatts. However, because of the ultrashort energy transfer times, heating of the biological material is avoided.
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Cold Plasmas |
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The technology of cold ionized gases has recently reached a level of maturity at which applications can be considered. Cold plasmas consist of electrons and ions in gases at high pressure, up to and even exceeding atmospheric pressure. The charged particles in these cold plasmas are successfully used to decontaminate surfaces.
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Enviromental Applications |
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Pulsed electric fields are used to decontaminate liquids, particularly liquid food. Other applications include bacterial decontamination of water using combinations of pulsed power and cold plasma technology, and using pulsed electric fields for biofouling prevention.Cold plasmas have also proven to be efficient in bacterial decontamination, in this case, of gases. High-pressure plasmas, which can be generated in atmospheric pressure air, are effective in bacterial decontamination, and also in chemical decontamination. Various carcinogens, used in industrial processes, have been eliminated when contaminated gases were exhausted through such cold plasmas. |
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Commercial Applications |
These new technologies offer a wide range of applications, including cancer treatment, wound healing, tissue regeneration, gene delivery into cell nuclei, bacterial decontamination of liquid food, along with other areas of relevance that have a high likelihood of emerging as additional research proceeds.
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The effect of ultrashort electrical pulses on malignant tumors in vivo
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Drug delivery directly into cells
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Biological decontamination of water and biofouling protection using electrical fields
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Biological decontamination of air using atmospheric pressure glow discharge
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Intracellular electromanipulation for tissue sculpting and tissue regeneration
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Chemical decontamination of gases, liquids, and solids using cold plasmas |
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Ongoing Research |
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